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THE 

FEMALE PREACHER, 

OR 

MEMOIR OF 

SALOME LINCOLN, 

AFTERWARDS THE WIFE OF 

ELDER JUNIA S. MO WRY. 



By 
ALMOND H. DAVIS. 



"The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance." 

psalms cxn.: 6. 

/ 
/ 

PROVIDENCE: 
PUBLISHED BY ELDER J. S. MOWRY, 

AT THE BOOKSTORE OF ISAAC WILCOX, 5 MARKET SQUARE. 

BOSTON: 

FOR SALE BY D. S. KING AND CO., NO. 1 CORNHILL. 

1843. 



. 






Entered according to act of Congress, in the year 1843, by 

ALMOND H. DAVIS, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of 

Massachusetts. 



sj / m*» 



BOSTON: 

PRINTED BY A. B. KIDDER, 7 CORNHILL. 



PREFACE, 

BY THE PUBLISHER. 



"Courteous Reader! — While such a mass of 
books at the present day, are being published in so 
cheap a manner, and the tendency of many of them, 
being to corrupt the public mind, it becomes the duty 
of the christian community, to use every means to 
counteract their influence. 

" It was while watching with her, during her last 
moments, that it occurred to me, that a short sketch 
of her life and trials, might be a benefit to others by 
placing in the hands of the public, facts rather than 
fiction. And in the language of another, — 

" The Memorials of the good, constitute one of 
the most sacred possessions of the church of Christ. 
It is not submitted to our choice, whether or not, we 
will preserve and hand down the character of such 
as have been eminent in their day, for the savor and 
strength of their piety — the ardor and steadfastness 
of their devotion, the consistency and power of their 
example, and the abundance and success of their 



IV PREFACE. 

labors in the cause of their Crucified King. There 
is a moral obligation, resting on each successive 
generation of her children, to perpetuate these living 
evidences of Christianity" 

" At the time I placed her papers in the hands of 
the Author, I had but a faint idea of publishing her 
Memoir. But the additional amount of matter col- 
lected — and the many interesting facts, embodied, 
all conspired to increase the conviction that such a 
work would be highly valuable to the public. But 
what finally led me to decide in favor of this step 
was, that I might be more extensively useful, by 
causing to be placed in the hands of the reader, a 
1 written monument, ' that will preach after I am laid 
in the dust with her. These are my only motives in 
publishing this work ; and if these records of my 
beloved companion, and fellow laborer in the gospel, 
shall be instrumental in awakening one impenitent 
sinner, or of stirring up the minds of any to greater 
usefulness, I shall rejoice, and my object will have 
been accomplished. I conclude in the prayer of 
another, — ' Hand it, O my Savior, to dying men and 
women, with a blessing from above.' " 

J. S. Mowry. 

Smithfield, R /., May 9th, 1843. 



CONTENTS, 



INTRODUCTION. 

Apology for this work 9 

Manner of collecting the facts 10 

Objection to female preaching considered . . 12 

Women preached in the days of the apostles 16 

CHAPTER I. 

YOUTH. 

Birth and parentage 20 

Personal appearance 21 

Private and christian character 23 

Education 26 

Experience 28 

Baptism 31 

Unites with the F. W. Baptist church ... 32 



VI CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER II. 

A CALL T O PRE AC H. 

A call to preach defined 34 

Her own convictions in relation to preaching 36 

Preached her first sermon 43 

Her style of preaching 44 

A sermon at midnight 46 

CHAPTER III. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

At work in the factory at Taunton .... 49 

Leaves Taunton — Anecdote 50 

Goes to Easton 52 

Preaches at Capt. White's, Raynham .... 54 

Conversion of Sophronia Packard 57 

Death of the same " 

CHAPTER IV. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER, 

Introductory remarks ......... 62 

Preaches in Taunton 64 

Meets with opposition in a neighboring town 66 

Preaches at Rochester, Mass., in a grove . . 69 

Visits and preaches at East Falmouth, Mass. . 70 

Conversion of Benjamin and Simeon Eldrich 72 



CONTENTS. Vll 

CHAPTER V. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER 

Continued. 

Introductory remarks 76 

Visits Sandwich and East Falmouth .... 78 

From Falmouth goes to Martha's Vineyard . . 79 

Preaches at Holmes' Hole ....... 81 

Preaches in a grove at North Shore .... 84 

Conversion of a friend 88 

Leaves the Vineyard after spending a few months 95 

CHAPTER VI. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER. 

Concluded. 

Introductory remarks 98 

After visiting home, returns to Martha's Vineyard 100 

Visits and preaches at Nantucket 103 

Preaches in Boston 108 

From Boston goes to South Bridgewater . . 109 
Returns to Boston and stops six weeks . . .110 
Burning of the Convent at Charlestown . . .112 
Visits various sections of Maine 116 



Vlll 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER VII. 



THE WIFE. 

Remarks on the choice of a companion 
First acquaintance with Elder Mowry 

Labors in Tiverton 

Interesting visit to Martha's Vineyard 
Marriage to Eld. Mowry, &c. &c. 
Birth and death of her iirst child 
Unites with the church at Tiverton . 



121 
123 
126 
131 
133 
141 
143 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE LAST SICKNESS. 

Introductory remarks 145 

Preached her Last Sermon 148 

Last hours — State of mind in view of death . .150 

Suffers extreme bodily pain and death . . . 151 

Funeral Service and burial at midnight . . 153 

Requiem, tyc.fyc 159 

Place of burial 161 



INTRODUCTION. 



11 While thus within, contending armies strove, 
Without, the christian had his trials too. " — Pollok. 

Apology for this work. I am aware, that 
female preaching at the present day, among a large 
and respectable body of christians, has become very 
unpopular. But this is no reason why we should 
keep silent. Many things which are rejected by the 
world, are undoubtedly approved by God. Vital 
Christianity, is unpopular ; as but few embrace its 
principles, and if an individual would become a 
truly devoted christian, in the sight of God, he must 
at the same time, lose the popular favor of the 
world. But is this a sufficient reason why the minis- 
ter of the gospel, who believes in holiness of heart, 
should keep silent ? On the other hand, is it not the 
very reason why he should cry aloud against every 
sin, and spare not ? 

From these remarks, the reader will perceive, that 

the author of this work, has not written, expecting to 

gain the popular favor of the world, but from a strong 

conviction of right ; and if by thus doing, he can 

2 



10 INTRODUCTION. 

promote the cause of virtue and holiness, he will 
have accomplished all he desires, and the world may 
regard his labors as they choose. 

Manner of collecting the Facts: — Soon 
after the death of Mrs. Mo wry, her husband, together 
with some other friends, were desirous that her life 
should appear before the public. And at their urgent 
request, the author undertook the task of preparing* 
it for the press : — a task, for which, he feels himself 
but poorly qualified. 

At her death, Sister Mo wry left a Journal of about 
thirty pages, and that, written during a period of 
but little importance in her history. Besides this 
she left nearly, if not quite, one hundred letters, 
from different individuals. These too, contained but 
few facts relative to her. Under these considera- 
tions, we concluded to visit the different places where 
she had labored, and collect what facts we could, 
and the letters written by herself. — We collected 
about fifty, together with many more interesting in- 
cidents. And from these, together with her journal, 
we were able to trace her history, from birth to death. 

From the manner her journal has been collected, 
it would not. be surprising if the reader should find 
some errors ; especially among the dates. Should 
this be the case, we trust the above explanation will 
serve as an apology. 

Reasons why Mrs. Mowry entered the field 
of labor, as a preacher of the gospel. — It 
could not have been a love of gain, that- prompted 



INTRODUCTION. 11 

Sister Mo wry to go out from home, as a public speaker ; 
as her labors in the gospel field never supported her, 
neither did she expect it. It was not from a love of 
ease, as she knew something of the hardships attend- 
ing such a course, even before she engaged. Neither 
was it from a love of self-aggrandizement ; as she 
well knew, from the example of those who had pre- 
ceded her, that she must certainly meet with the 
slander, and bitter reproach of the world. This is 
somewhat peculiar to all devoted christians, but es- 
pecially Female Preachers. Pollok in speaking of 
the slander and reproach heaped upon the christian, 



" And slander, worse than mockery, or sword, 
Or death, stood nightly at her horrid forge, 
And fabricated lies, to stain his name, 
And wound his peace. " 

Christ says, — " If ye were of the world, the world 
would love his own; but because ye are not of 
the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, 
therefore the world hateth you." — St. John 15 : 19. — 
Eut in the language of the poet, 

* * * Still she had a source 
Of happiness, that men could neither give 
Nor take away : The Avenue that led 
To immortality before her lay. " 

I firmly believe, all that ever prompted Mrs. 
Mowry to take the stand she did, v/as a deep rooted 
conviction, like Paul; that, — "Woe is tome, if I 
preach not the gospel." 



12 INTRODUCTION. 

Objections to Female Preachers : It is ad- 
vocated with considerable warmth, that woman is 
acting out of her sphere, when she takes a part in 
the public congregation. I once, from a prejudice 
early imbibed, without searching for the " thus saith 
the Lord, " maintained the same views. But what- 
ever may have been my former opinion, I am now 
satisfied, that God's ways are not as our ways ; and 
he will choose just such agents to execute his plans, 
as best subserves his ends. And when he has chosen 
them, he will give them an evidence, that they are 
his servants. And if Mrs. Mowry did not have this, 
we can gain no evidence that any individual has, 
since the days of the apostles. 

The principal objection to female speaking in 
public, arises from early prejudice. And in fact one 
author in a recent article on this subject, speaking 
of 1 Cor. xiv. 34,35, says — "Having been familiar 
with these passages from my youth, I have never 
doubted for a moment, the unscripturalness and 
impropriety of females becoming public exhorters, 
teachers and speakers. — " It is somewhat remark- 
able that whenever this subject is introduced, the 
objector always resorts to the Fourteenth chapter of 
1 Corinthians, — as though there were no other 
passage in scripture, of sufficient strength to meet 
their preconceived notions. But as we shall soon 
have occasion to refer to that, we will leave it for 
the present. 

Another objection to female preaching, is, that 



INTRODUCTION. 13 

it would be improper for women to become pastors. 
It is not my intention, to advocate Female Pastors ; 
but a woman may express her views in public, by 
way of exhortation &c. ; — without taking upon her- 
self the care of a church. As in the days of the 
apostles, there were different gifts in the church, so 
it is at the present day. "Now there are diversities 
of gifts, but the same spirit; And there are differ- 
ences of administration, but the same Lord. * # # 
For to one is given by the spirit, the ivord of wisdom , 
to another, the word of knowledge by the same spirit; 
To another, faith by the same spirit; To another, the 
gift of healing by the same spirit ; To another, the 
working of miracles; to another, prophecy; to another, 
discerning of spirits; to another, divers kinds of 
tongues, to another, interpretation of tongues : " — 
1 Cor. xii. 4, 5, 8, 9, 10. 

But some who admit the propriety of women 
speaking in public conference, deny them the right 
of going into the pulpit, and taking a text for the 
foundation of remarks: but I have yet to learn, that 
the pulpit is a more sacred place, than any other por- 
tion of the house. And if it is right for woman to 
speak in public conference, it is right for her to quote 
passages of scripture, and if right to quote scripture, 
it is also right to take a passage as the foundation of 
remarks ; and as the desk is not the sanctum sane- 
torum of God's house, it is equally right to enter 
that — with a text selected from the word of God. 
But the strongest objection in the minds of many, 
2* 



14 INTRODUCTION. 

is "It is unpopular." Says the same author to whom 
we have just alluded : — "As to the usages of the 
Baptist churches, permit me to say, that in England 
such a practise is not known, and would not be tol- 
erated. " He also refers to the Middle States of 
this country. But had he referred to the apostolic 
dispensation instead of those places, I think the 
argument would have been better grounded. But 
leaving this part of the subject; I now proceed to 
notice the objection raised from the Epistle of Paul 
to the Corinthians. 

" Let your women keep silence in the chur- 
ches, " &c. 1 Cor. xiv. 34. The subject of female 
preaching, can scarcely be introduced, but what this 
oft repeated passage is rehearsed. But that we may 
be mistaken in Paul's meaning, is not impossible. 
Dr. Clark remarks in his comments on this verse ; — 
" This was a Jewish ordinance. Women were not 
permitted to teach in their assemblies, or even to ask 
questions. The Rabbies taught, that icoman, should 
know nothing but the use of her distaff. " 

The same doctrine is extensively taught, among 
all the barbarous nations at the present day. But 
the sentiment, savors too much of oppression, to be 
advocated in this enlightened age. And again it 
should be remembered, that it is the doctrine of 
men, and not of God — It lays no claim to Divine 
Inspiration. Rabbi Elezar also remarks, "Let the 
words of the Law be burned, rather than that they 
should be delivered to woman. " But where is the 



INTRODUCTION* 15 

christian, that would be willing now to embrace this 
sentiment. 

That the apostle did not mean to preclude woman 
from speaking in public, is self evident, when we take 
into consideration his remarks on other occasions. 
11 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with 
her head uncovered dishonoreth her head, " &c. — 
1 Cor. xi. 5. Says Dr. Clark, " Whatever may be the 
meaning of praying or prophesying in respect to the 
man : they have precisely the same meaning in re- 
spect to the woman ; so that women, at least as well 
as some men, might speak to others, to edification, 
exhortation and comfort. " 

The apostle in making the remark, which he did 
in the fourteenth chapter of Corinthians, instead of 
intending to prohibit Pious Females from speaking 
for the edification of others, alluded to the confusion 
which frequently occurred in the churches, by the 
troublesome asking of questions ; and probably wo- 
men, as well as men frequently annoyed them in 
this way. This is evident from the three preceding 
verses, commencing at the 31st — " For ye may all 
prophesy, one by one, that all may learn, and all be 
comforted ? 33 verse. For God is not the author of 
confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the 
saints. " * — Then comes the words under consider- 
ation : — "Let your women keep silence in the chur- 
ches, for it is not permitted unto them to speak ; but 

* See also : — II Timothy ii. 23. Titus iii. 9. 



16 INTRODUCTION. 

they are commanded to be under obedience, as also 
saith the law. 

Women did Prophesy, or Preach in the time 
of Christ and the apostles ; and were ap- 
proved. The term prophesy in scripture, as gener- 
ally used is nearly synonymous with the term preach- 
ing as understood at the present day. The term 
prophesy — signifies explaining scripture, speaking 
to the church in public, by way of exhortation, sing- 
ing the praises of God, in the language of inspira- 
tion, or foretelling future events. * That prophesy- 
ing and exhortation, or preaching, was understood 
by the apostle to mean the same, is evident from his 
words in 1 Cor. xiv. 3. — " But he that Prophesyeih, 
speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, 
and comfort. " Again the Revelator declares that 
the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of Prophesy. — 
Rev. xix. 10. 

That women were to prophesy is evident from 
Joel xi. 28 verse, — " And it shall come to pass af- 
terwards, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh ; 
and your sons, and your daughters shall prophesy, 
&c." 

Here we see that the spirit of prophesy, was to be 
poured out upon woman, as well as man : And that 
women did Prophesy or Preach in the time of Christ 
and his apostles is still more evident Mariam and 
Deborah prophesied. And the Prophetess Anna, 

* See Encyclopedia of Religious knowledge — Article 
Prophet. 



INTRODUCTION. 17 

bore testimony at the coming of Christ, as well as 
Simeon. The apostle was aware that women 
prophesied ; For the sacred penman tells us : — 
Acts xxi. 8, 9. And the next day we that were of 
Paul's company, departed and came into Ceserea; 
and we entered the house of Philip the Evangelist, 
which was one of the seven, and abode with him. 
And the same man had Four daughters, virgins, 
which did Prophesy. 

No comment need be made upon these last refer- 
ences. And I will close by simply adding, that 
Aquila, and Priscilla, expounded the law unto Apol- 
los, who himself, was an eloquent man, and mighty 
in scripture. Acts xviii. 24-26 — Many other quo- 
tations might be made, to show that women did actu- 
ally speak in public, in the days of the primitive 
church. . But enough we think has already been 
cited ; therefore I will desist. 

It was woman that preached Christ to the Samari- 
tans, after she had learned of him, at Jacob's well ! — 

It was woman that first preached a risen Savior ! 
and shame on that man, who will take advantage of 
the apostle's meaning, in the fourteenth of Corin- 
thians, by construing it into something he never in- 
tended ; in order to make her condition still more 
degraded. 

A. H. Davis. 

Boston, April 28, 1843. 



MEMOIR. 



CHAPTER I. 

YOUTH. 

" We spend N 

A ten years' breath, 
Before we apprehend, 
What 'tis to live or fear a death. 57 

Youth, in many respects, is the happiest 
period of life. It is then, that the mind, un- 
burdened with care, is left free to rove ; and 
like the bee to pluck her sweets from every 
flower. But as we advance onward up life's 
steep declivity, ere we are aware, we are 
immersed in the busy scenes of the world, 
and we can hardly tell why we live, or what 
is to be the ultimate object of our existence. 
But one thing is certain, we do not exist in 
vain, if we fulfil the design of our creation ; 



20 MEMOIR. 

which is, to spend the passing time in such a 
manner, as not only to benefit the world by 
our having lived in it ; but also to prepare 
for another, and a better. But how many 
there are, who have spent not only ten years, 
but a whole life — three score and ten ; and 
died, as the fool dieth, without knowing why 
they have lived, or what good they have ac- 
complished. And on the other hand, how 
many, who have been truly useful in society, 
have died comparatively in obscurity. And 
hence it should be the object of the memori- 
alist, to seek out such, that their virtues, and 
their names may be perpetuated among the 
living, for the benefit of coming generations. 

Salome Lincoln, ^ — the daughter of Am- 
brose and Susanna Lincoln, was born at Rayn- 
ham, Mass. in Bristol County, September 13, 
1807. She was the eldest of six children ; 
only two of which are now living. Her 
father's residence, where she was born, is 
situated in the edge of Raynham, about five 
miles north of Taunton Green. 

Her father was born in Taunton in 1784. 

* We have thought proper to use her maiden name until 
the time when we shall speak of her marriage ; as many of 
the readers know her only by that. 



EARLY HISTORY. 21 

Her mother, Susanna Weston, was born in 
Middleborough, Mass., in the year 1782. — 
They are both professors of religion : Her 
father having made a public profession, and 
united with the Christian Baptist Church in 
1806 ; and her mother, in 1805 united with 
the Calvinist Baptist Church at Taunton. She 
afterwards took up her connection, and united 
with the Free Will Baptist, at Taunton, where 
she now remains. 

Personal Appearance. In describing the 
person of Salome, I shall be forced to con- 
fine myself to tlie testimony of others, hav- 
ing never seen her myself. And the de- 
scription, will better answer to her in after 
life, than in youth. Sister Lincoln in after 
life, say those who were acquainted with her, 
was above the middle size. Her hair was 
black — her eyes, dark and piercing, with 
an expression of mildness, and her features 
beamed with intelligence. In her dress, she 
was plain, yet tasty, and always manifested 
an excellent judgment in selecting the colors. 
She was not extravagant ; but dressed in a 
manner becoming her station. In early life 
however, before restrained by the influence 
of religion, she was naturally inclined to gay- 
3 



22 MEMOIR. 

ety ; but after experiencing a change of heart 
she overcame those propensities. 

Her voice was deep toned and heavy, and 
well suited to a public speaker. She some- 
times spoke in large houses, and even in the 
open air ; and was distinctly heard by large 
• audiences. " Her manner of speaking " — says 
one who often heard her, "was self-collected, 
and yet pathetic ; simple, yet deep in thought.'* 
When she spoke in public, her feelings usually 
were engaged in the subject ; and with a soul 
yearning for the salvation of others, her words 
would sometimes fall upon the ears of the 
audience with a power almost irresistible ! 
Says an individual, who was intimate with 
her ; u Such exhortations and prayers, are 
not often heard, as proceeded from her lips. 
I shall never forget following her in prayer r 
She had addressed the throne of grace, in 
her peculiarly solemn and impressive manner, 
when I immediately followed ; but the con- 
trast was so great, that I seemed in my own 
estimation, to have dwindled to the size of an 
infant. " In the pulpit her appearance was 
bold and commanding. She used but few 
jestures, but her manner was such as to gain 
the attention and interest of those who heard. 



EARLY HISTORY. 23 

Private Character. It is the invariable 
testimony of a large circle of acquaintance, 
that Salome Lincoln maintained an excellent 
character through life.. But being reserved 
in her manners, especially among strangers, 
she sometimes drew forth the suspicions, if not 
the enmity of those who knew her not. This 
trait of character was natural to her from 
childhood, and she did not entirely over- 
come it. But to those of her familiar ac- 
quaintance, and who had gained her confi- 
dence, she was a faithful and tried friend. 
There are several instances of this kind, of 
a marked character, which we shall hereafter 
notice. 

Salome was naturally mild and amiable in 
her temper — ready to yield even her own 
rights for the sake of maintaining peace.— 
Says her mother : — "I never knew her to 
strike any one of her playmates, except in 
one instance, and then she did not seem to be 
in anger. " She was playing school, as chil- 
dren term it ; a play for which they seem to 
be strikingly fond, as it gives them an oppor- 
tunity to assume authority — and children, as 
well as men, sometimes like to command, 
and be obeyed. But it seems in this in- 



24 MEMOIR. 

stance, the boy over whom she usurped au- 
thority, did not prove a very obedient scholar. 
And for his obstinacy, she did, what teach- 
ers sometimes have to do, to scholars of a 
similar character. 

Christian Character. Sister Lincoln, 
was a devoted christian ! She was not satis- 
fied with an empty profession — that which 
satisfies the world ! but she sought to be holy 
in the sight of God. It is of but little impor- 
tance how the world regard us ; if our hearts 
are right! — In her whole intercourse with 
society, her conduct evinced a purity of heart, 
a sincerity of action, strength of faith, and 
warmth of christian love. These remarks 
will apply to the latter part of her life with 
force — but to say she sustained this charac- 
ter through every period, would perhaps be 
saying more than is strictly true ; as a short 
period passed, according to her own relation ; 
and as we shall soon show, when she was in 
what is commonly termed a backslidden state ; 
but with the exception of this, the remarks 
will apply with emphasis to her christian char- 
acter, from the time of her conversion, until 
her death. Says one who was familiar with 
her from childhood, — "Such has been my 



EARLY HISTORY. 25 

situation in life as to enable me to form many 
happy associations, with a large number of 
devoted christians ; and for a rigid adherence 
to principle — a uniform and consistent chris- 
tian life, I must pronounce her one of the 
first ! It is not too much I think, to say that 
none among- us stood higher in the estimation 
of the community, for talents and piety, than 
Salome. " 

Religion, was her only theme. And she 
seems to have had a longing desire to become 
more and more transformed into the image 
of her Savior. After a careful examination 
of a large number of her letters, written to 
different individuals, we have not found one 
in which she has not mentioned the subject 
of religion. In one of these she says : — 
" Religion is the one thing needful ! — I do 
not know of anything in this world I could 
put in the balance against Religion ! But 
O, — I want to be more and more rooted 
and grounded in the Lord ! " In another 
letter she says, — " How good this religion 
is! Truly I receive an hundred fold in this 
life ; and am expecting Life Eternal in the 
world to come. " 

It was religion that sustained her in her 
3* 



26 MEMOIR. 

arduous labors for the salvation of her fellow- 
men ! It was religion, that supported her 
through all her trials ! It comforted her in 
sickness — It soothed her in death — And 
she is now enjoying its blissful influence 
among the ransomed millions in heaven! — 
O, blessed thought ! — O, glorious immortal- 
ity ! — Who then would not be a christian ? 

Education. Salome's advantages for ac- 
quiring an education were but limited, being 
confined to a common school. And common 
schools at the period when she attended, did 
not afford the facilities which are now offered, 
for rapid advancement. For the march of 
time has brought its improvements in this 
department, as well as in others. This to 
anxious parents, who are now forced to send 
their children abroad — unguarded, save by 
the watch-care of strangers, must be a source 
of satisfaction ; as they may look forward to 
the time as not far distant, when they can 
obtain an education at home, sufficient for 
all the business transactions of life. 

Though Salome's advantages for obtaining 
an education, were limited, yet she did not 
misspend her time. She embraced every op- 
portunity for improvement ; and by reading, 



EARLY HISTORY. 27 

and other means, she had by the time of her 
death, acquired a large store of useful knowl- 
edge; and gave an evidence to those around 
her, that her mind was highly cultivated. 
She spent much time in reading and med- 
itation. Says Elder Johnson, — " Salome 
gathered books around her ! and the time 
others spent in gossiping and idle chit chat, 
she spent in reading her Bible, and other 
books. Pursuing this course, she became 
retiring in her manners, and less social with 
those around her, unless it were on religious 
topics, and then very sparingly, conversing 
apparently, only when she hoped to get or 
do good." 

Early History. Except some few facts 
which have been gathered from her writings, 
and from her friends, but little of importance 
is known of Salome, until she was fifteen 
years of age. Her mind was early led to the 
subject of religion, and to this fact undoubtedly 
she owes the formation of the character which 
she sustained in after life. 

" As the twig is bent, the tree inclines." 
is a maxim, which ought to be painted in 
large capitals, in the sitting room of every 



28 MEMOIR. 

mother. Children may be taught virtue, ag 
readily as vice. Mothers look to your chil- 
dren ! If you neglect to teach them virtue, 
they will certainly learn vice. * But to return ; 
Salome was early taught the existence of 
God, and the necessity of a preparation of 
heart, to meet him in peace. 

Experience. At the age of thirteen her 
mind was called to the subject of religion. 
This w T as sometime in the year 1820. Previ- 
ous to this, according to her own relation, 
she had had many serious thoughts, when she 
reflected that she must meet a righteous God 
in judgment ; and there render an account 
for all the deeds done in the body. When 
alone, she says — "I have often wept bitterly, 
wishing that I was prepared for death. " But 
like many others under like circumstances, 
she said to the Holy Spirit ; " Go thy way 
for this time, and when I have a more con- 
venient season I will call for thee. " 

From this time, until 1822, her mind seemed 
to be wavering, and in doubt. Sometimes 
we find her earnestly seeking for the salva- 

* Jeremy Taylor once said to a mother. u Madam ! be at 
pains to educate your son, or be assured Satan will do it 
for you. M 



EARLY HISTORY. 29 

tion of her soul, and at others, among her 
friends at Middleborough, joining with her 
voung companions in the vanities of the world, 
afraid to acknowledge her need of a Savior, 
through fear of their derision. She continued 
in this situation until she was fifteen years 
of age, when she boldly determined to for- 
sake all, and follow Christ. 

She experienced religion sometime in the 
year 1822. She was then probably at work 
at Hopewell, a factory village in Taunton, 
about one mile from the Court House. It 
was soon after her return from a visit to her 
friends at Middleborough, Mass. As the 
relation of her experience is interesting, I 
will give it verbatim as recorded in her journal. 

She says : — " I had now returned home, 
and determined that I would seek the Lord 
at the loss of all things. But the more I 
sought, the more I saw the wretchedness of 
my situation. I attended on the preaching of 
the gospel, but every word was like a thun- 
derbolt to my w r ounded soul ! I felt that I 
was justly condemned, and despaired of the 
mercy of God. Once as the preacher came 
down from the desk, he requested those that 
desired prayers to come forward to the anx- 



30 MEMOIR. 

ious seats. While he was praying, I rushed 
from the seat where I was sitting, and knelt 
with those who had already come forward. 
I thought I had now given up my good name 
and come out from the world ; but still I 
found no relief. One day as I retired to a 
small grove near the house, and sat down 
under a large tree to meditate upon my lost 
condition without Christ ; it seemed to me 
as though the heavens were brass, and the 
earth was iron under my feet. O ! thought 
I — I have lived but a few years ! but I have 
become a burden to myself! I felt that I had 
sinned away the day of grace, and driven 
the heavenly messenger from my breast ! — 
While I sat thus meditating ; a thought like 
this, came to my mind. Has not Christ died 
for the very worst of sinners ? I cannot be 
worse than the worst — perhaps there is yet 
mercy for me ! I will cast myself upon him ; 
and if I die, I will die pleading — I then 
threw myself upon my knees, and began to 
cry : — O, Jesus — If thou wilt, thou canst 
make me clean ! While praying, it seemed 
as though the mountains had rolled away, 
and I heard these words : — u I will, be thou 
clean ! " My fears subsided. The throbbings 



EARLY HISTORY. 31 

of my bosom ceased ; and a heavenly calm 
ensued. 0, thought I, is it possible, I have 
found favor with God? I then arose and 
went towards the house ; but Satan soon sug- 
gested to my mind, that I had only lost my 
conviction, and mistaken it for conversion. 
And now my case if possible, was even worse 
than before. Again I fell upon my knees, 
and besought the Lord, that if I had not 
found forgiveness, to give me an evidence ; 
and then these words were sweetly applied 
to my mind : — 

" Be not faithless, but believing. u 

O, what glory filled my soul at that mo- 
ment ! I arose, and every thing looked new 
around me ! Every thing seemed to praise 
the Lord ! and I longed to tell the whole 
world, what a dear Savior I had found. I 
knew then, that he had taken my feet from 
the miry clay ; and had set them upon the 
Rock, even the Rock Christ Jesus ! " 

Baptism. April S, 1823, Salome with nine 
others went forward in the ordinance of bap- 
tism. The rite was administered by Elder 
Ruben Allen, a Freewill Baptist minister 
then laboring with the church at Taunton. 

In speaking of the ordinance she says : — 



32 MEMOIR. 

"It was a happy day to me. The banks 
were thronged with a large concourse of 
people, who had assembled to witness the 
administration. But my soul was so filled 
with the love of God, that I did not fear them. 
I could say in the language of the Poet : — 

" Blest be my God that I was born, 

To hear the Gospel sound ; 
That I was born, to be baptized, 

When Gospel truths abound. " 

Unites with the Church. In the month 
of July following her baptism, she was re- 
ceived, and united with the F. W. Baptist 
Church at Raynham. This church was a 
branch of the church at Taunton, and was 
under the pastoral charge of Elder H. N. 
Loring. 

Though Salome gained so good an evidence 
of her acceptance with God, and as confident 
as others might have been that she would 
have remained steadfast ; yet we are obliged 
to record a short period of her life, after her 
conversion, when she was without the enjoy- 
ment of religion. In speaking of it herself, 
she says — "The church began to decline, 
and I with the rest. " 



EARLY HISTORY. 33 

She remained in a backslidden state until 
sometime in the year 1825 ; when she was 
again reclaimed and brought back to her first 
love. This was during a powerful revival of 
religion in Raynham and the vicinity where 
she was then laboring. 

The cause of her backsliding, she attributes 
to a neglect of duty. From the time of her 
conversion, it was deeply impressed upon her 
mind, that God had something for her to do 
as a public laborer in his vineyard. 

A neglect of duty, is the usual cause of all 
backsliding. When the young convert begins 
to trust in his own strength, and like Peter, 
to walk the untrodden deep, he is sure to sink. 
But as long as he will draw nigh unto God, 
God will draw nigh unto him. And as long 
as he will walk in the paths God has marked 
out, his soul will prosper. 



34 



CHAPTER II. 

A CALL TO PREACH. 

" Woe is unto me if I preach not the Gospel. " — Paul. 

"Go then earthly fame and treasure — 

Come disaster, scorn and pain, 

In thy service, pain is pleasure, 

With thy favor loss is gain ! " 

" A call to preach ! " says the reader — 
What! a woman called to preach ? — Truly 
this is something new ! 

But stop my dear Sir! — let us reason for 
a moment. What is a call to preach ? 

The strongest evidence lean name, that 
an individual is called to preach the gospel, 
is, a deep conviction that it is his duty — this 
conviction being from God. The apostle 
explains the nature of this call, when he 
says: — " For though I preach the gospel, 
I have nothing to glory of, for necessity is 
laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I 
preach not the gospel. " — 1 Cor. ix. 16. 

This is one of the evidences, but there are 
others, and I will proceed to name them. 



CALLED TO PREACH. 35 

1. An individual called to preach the gos- 
pel, will feel to weep over sin, in high, as 
well as low places; and to do all he or she 
can, to promote the salvation of others. 

2. " A call to preach, requires of the indi- 
vidual, a holy, blameless life, and abilities 
suited to the work ; such as knowledge, 
aptness to teach, courage, &c. — and an op- 
portunity afforded in providence to be use- 
ful." * 

These are some of the most prominent 
points, which we consider constitute a call to 
preach. Now if a woman has all these qual- 
ifications ; and there is no prohibition in the 
word of God, f may she not strictly be said 
to have a call from God to preach the gospel ? 

The greatest difficulty at the present day, 
is, that too many preachers, have no higher 
call than of men. If more were called of 
God, and less of men, it would be better for 
the church, and better for the world. 

Whether Sister Lincoln had the qualifica- 
tions which I have named, or not, I leave for 
the reader to judge, after he shall have read 
her convictions, and the testimony of others. 

* Prof. Knowles' Premium Tract, 
t See Introduction, Page 14. 



36 MEMOIR. 

One thing, however, is certain, if she erred? 
she erred conscientiously. 

It was early evident to the friends of Salome, 
from her striking gift in exhortation, that she 
was destined to fill a more conspicuous place 
in the church, and in society. And although 
her mind was strongly exercised on this sub- 
ject, yet it was a long time before she yielded 
to a sense of duty, and took up her cross. 

Her trials of mind, in relation to preach- 
ing, as we may naturally suppose, were severe. 
Situated as she was in a community, where 
female preachers were but little known : — 
and where the tide of popular favor was 
turned against them — with but limited means, 
without many friends to encourage her on, — 
while the spirit of God, and the convictions 
of conscience, said, go, go ! — and on the other 
hand, Satan, and the world, cried Woma?i, — 
woman ! — it is no wonder, that at the mid- 
night hour, while she wept and prayed till 
her pillow was wet with tears; * she should 
sometimes exclaim, " Lord I pray thee, have 
me excused ! " 

* It is related by her friends, that so great was her anxiety 
of mind on the subject of preaching, that she would often 
weep hours, after she had retired. 



CALLED TO PREACH. 37 

According to her own relation, her mind 
was first exercised on the subject of preach- 
ing, about the year 1S23, soon after she 
united with the church. In a letter addressed 
to a friend, she says ; — "I was employed in 
the weaving-room at Taunton. — My mind 
had often been exercised, in relation to enter- 
ing the vineyard of the Lord, as a public labor- 
er. But, O, my soul shrunk from the work ! 
I thought I could never move forward ; and 
soon lost the enjoyment of religion. " 

In another letter she says : — "I felt that 
it was a great undertaking ; and it was with 
a trembling hand, that I came to the conclu- 
sion to give up all,- and enter the field. But 
on making up my mind, I felt the approbation 
of heaven, and since then, I have been more 
and more convinced, that these convictions 
were from the Lord ! " 

In remarking to a friend, she said, that it 
did not seem right to her, for a woman to 
speak in public ; and on account of this, 
like Jonah, she had fled from the presence 
of the Lord, to get rid of duty. This im- 
pression was undoubtedly founded on the 
belief of others. But one eminent writer, 
(Dr. Watts,) remarks, that truth is to be re- 
4* 



38 MEMOIR. 

ceived, come from what source it may. And 
the truth of God is no less precious, because 
it is spoken by woman ; though the world 
may claim dominion over her, and attempt to 
seal her lips in perpetual silence. 

Elder Lorenzo Johnson in speaking of her 
call to preach, in a letter written to her hus- 
band after her death, says : — 

" Although like most of my brethren, I felt 
a strong prejudice against female preachers, 
as they are termed ; and although they were 
not licensed as such by our conference ; yet 
my own conviction, produced by an intimate 
acquaintance with her exercises of mind, was, 
that if I, or any other person with whom I 
was acquainted, was called of God to preach, 
Sister Salome had as great a call, as my- 
self. " 

So severely was Sister Lincoln's mind ex- 
ercised on this subject; that she was heard 
to remark, that sometimes she had almost 
thought, she should be willing to be lost her- 
self, if she could be released from preaching. 
But when she thought of the souls of others — 
sinking down to hell, without Christ, then 
she was constrained to preach. 

In a letter written to Miss Liscom, she 



CALLED TO PREACH. 39 

says — * * * * * "I have given up all for 
Christ ! — you know not the sacrifice I make 
in leaving my dear friends. But I wish to 
submit to what seems to be duty. I reel that 
I have sold all, for the cause in whiefa I have 
engaged. I have given up earthly prospects ; 
I have taken the parting hand of friends ; — 
and am now going to seek a bride for my 
master. In another letter she says — 

* * * * * "I shall soon get through with 
all my trials ; and if faithful, it will be said 
to me, child ! your father calls, come 
home ! and then I shall see, that I have not 
had one trial too many ; but that they have 
worked out for me, a far more, and eternal 
weight of glory." 

The strongest evidence, we can have, after 
all, that Sister Lincoln was called of God as 
a public laborer, is, the success which attended 
her preaching ; and the deep interest which 
she ever felt for the salvation of others ; 
together with the untiring zeal which she 
manifested in all the varied, and sometimes 
trying circumstances, through which she was 
called to pass. After she broke loose from 
the world, she was unceasing in her efforts. 
Some considerable portion of the time, she 



40 MEMOIR. 

used to preach, on an average from three to 
four discourses a week, besides attending 
other meetings. And these were made the 
instrument in the conversion of a large num- 
ber of different individuals. 

Salome not only "had the witness of God, 
and the approval of her own conscience, as 
an evidence of her call ; bul; the hearty co- 
operation, of several distinguished brethren 
in the ministry. Her first recommendation she 
received from Elder Johnson, then pastor of 
the Reformed Methodist church at Wareham, 
of which she was a member. The following 
is a copy : — 

Wareham, Jane 2, 1832. 

" To whom it may concern : — This certifies 
that having known Sister Salome Lincoln 
for years, I am prepared to assert, that she 
sustains an unblemished christian character. 
Among her friends and neighbors she is held 
in high esteem. Having also been acquainted 
with the trials of her mind, in relation to her 
laboring publicly, I am prepared to say, she 
evinces a pure sincerity with regard to her 
duty. And in relation to her labors among 
the Reformed Methodist, they have been con- 
ducted with profit, and ability. "***** 
Lorenzo D. Johnson. 



CALLED TO PREACH. 41 

Sister Lincoln, at the time she received 
the ahove, was a member of the Reformed 
Methodist, a denomination of respectable 
christians. She took a letter from the Free 
Will Baptists, sometime in the year 1826: 
and joined the class at Taunton. 

About the same time, that she received 
the recommendation from Br. Johnson, she 
also received another from Br. Brett ; then 
Presiding Elder of the Reformed Methodist 
church. The following is a copy : — 

" To whom it may concern : — This certi- 
fies, that Sister Salome Lincoln, is a person 
of unexceptionable character ; both moral 
and religious, in her own town, church, and 
vicinity ; and is universally approbated as a 
laborer in the cause of God." 

Pliny Brett. 

Success as a Preacher. As a preacher, 
Sister Lincoln was very successful. She 
seldom preached a discourse without effect. 
The precise number awakened under her 
labors cannot be accurately ascertained. The 
devoted christian knows but little in this life, 
of the amount of good he may have accom- 
plished. It remains to be revealed in the 
world of spirits ! But one *kin«r i s certain. 



42 MEMOIR. 

many were awakened and hopefully con- 
verted under her labors ; and though she 
received'no official credentials from any body 
of christians, yet most of the evangelical 
denominations, were glad to receive her help. 
The following recommendation which she 
received from Elder Norris, — now the Editor 
of the Olive Branch, * in 1S34, will serve to 
illustrate the manner in which her labors 
were regarded. 

Boston, August, 13, 1834. 
" To whom it may concern: — As Miss 
Salome Lincoln, is about to visit, the State 
of Maine, and is a stranger there ; I would 
state, that she is well known to the Christian 
Public, in this section of country. She sus- 
tains a good moral character, and her con- 
nections are among some of the first families 
in this city, and vicinity. She is also highly 
respected, as an exemplary christian. She 
is approved, by a respectable, and in this 
State numerous class of christians, to help 
in the gospel ministry, — Many hundreds in 
this city, and in the neighboring towns have 

* A Paper published in Boston, Mass. 



11 E B P II* S T S E R M ON. 43 

listened to her pulpit instructions, with ap- 
parent pleasure and profit. " 

Thomas F. Norms, 
Pastor of the Reformed Methodist Church, Boston, 

Preached her first Sermon. Sister Lin- 
coln commenced her public labors in the 
vicinity of her father's, by taking part in 
prayer and conference meetings. Her first 
sermon was preached October 17th, 1S27 — 
The meeting was held about two miles from 
her father's residence. She had just returned 
from a Quarterly Meeting, held at Rochester, 
Mass.; and in speaking of the meeting she says, 

" I started expecting to hear Elder Brett 
preach. But my mind was uncommonly 
burdened ; and I felt that I should have some- 
thing to do. As I went up to the door, a 
little girl met me, and informed me that the 
preacher had not come. The thought was 
immediately suggested — he will not come ! 
I felt almost sure of it. I went into the house, 
and sat down in the kitchen, while the people 
were assembling in another room. A large 
number of young persons were present, and 
not one among them that had ever professed 
religion. I sat a few moments trembling 
under the cross : and then fell upon my knees 



44 MEMOIR. 

and commenced praying. While in prayer, 
the power of God was manifested — and the 
fear of man taken away. I then arose and 
began to speak. The promise of the Lord 
was verified — " Open thy mouth wide, and 
I will fill it." — While I spoke the eyes of 
the youth were fixed upon me, and many 
were affected even to tears. 

After I sat down, one aged woman arose 
and spoke a few words of exhortation, set- 
ting forth the importance of attending to the 
duties of religion while in youth. But not 
feeling my mind freed, I arose again, and 
spoke a few words, and then dismissed the 
meeting. 

I expected that much would be said in re- 
lation to this meeting ; but I felt that the Lord 
approbated me. And if the Lord is for me, 
who can be against me. " 

Style of Preaching. Sister Lincoln's 
style of preaching, by those who have heard 
her, is said to have been good. In private, 
as we have already noticed, she was natur- 
ally reserved and retiring in her manners. 
But in the pulpit, she was bold and attracting ; 
and as she began to warm up in the spirit of 
her discourse, this reserve was entirely gone, 



TALENTS AS A PREACHER. 45 

In the year 1839, after her marriage, she 
went with her husband to the town of New- 
port, R. I. * — and preached in one of the 
largest meeting-houses in that place. Says 
Elder Mc Kenzie, who was then pastor of 
the church — "In reference to her preach- 
ing at Newport, it was thought she would 
class with any female preacher, who had 
ever been there. In her discourse, there was 
no artificial arrangement ; yet clearness of 
reasoning — the argument sound — and the 
motives warm, and from the heart. The 
seats were all filled, and many were forced 
to stand. " 

She usually preached without notes, and 
sometimes with but little premeditation. On 
another occasion a little girl who was accus- 
tomed to hear sermons read, went to hear 
her. After meeting, she was asked how she 
liked. She replied, " It was the best sermon 
I ever heard ! on being asked why, she said, 
"because the preacher talkedout of 'her mouth. ," 

Talents as a Preacher. For talents as 
a preacher, Sister Lincoln ranked above 
mediocrity, whether compared with male or 

* Newport, a town on the Island of Rhode Island. 

5 



46 MEMOIR. 

female. This we conclude from the fact, 
that she always sustained herself in that ca- 
pacity, wherever she went ; and frequently 
she preached to very large congregations ; 
and from the testimony of individuals who 
are themselves men of judgment and taste. 
Says Eld. Joseph Whittemore, the pastor of 
the F. W. Baptist church at Tiverton, R. I. # 
" She was the best hand in conference meet- 
ings, I ever was acquainted with. I heard 
her preach several times. Her discourses 
were talented, and delivered with spirit. " — 
Eld. Johnson's testimony in relation to a dis- 
course preached at a protracted meeting in 
Sandwich, is to the point. It was given in a 
letter, written to her husband after her death. 
Says he : — 

"Among the many scenes where I was a 
co-laborer and witness, in the early life of 
your lamented companion, there is one, 
which I presume, I, and many others, will 
never forget. 

We had a protracted meeting in a grove, 

in the town of Sandwich, Mass. ; where we 

spread our tents like a camp meeting, and 

passed day and night on the ground. 

* Tiverton is a town in the east part of the State of Rhode 
Island. It was formerly called Pocassett. 



TALENTS A3 A PREACHER. 47 

On the last day of the meeting, it was pro- 
posed to have a sermon at midnight. — The 
lot fell upon Sister Salome to preach, and 
she consented. The bright moonlight, falling 
upon the thick foliage, which formed a can- 
opy over our heads — produced a kind of dim 
religious light, through all the arena where 
we were assembled ! — It being thus pleasant 
and inviting — a large audience collected. — 
At the appointed time, Sister Salome accom- 
pained by one or two female friends, took the 
stand, and announced her text — 

" And at Midnight there was a cry made ; 
Behold the Bridegroom cometh ; go ye out 
to meet him ! — Matt. xxv. 6. 

As she entered into the subject, her heart 
seemed to grow warm, her faith to increase — 
and her heavy voice echoed through the 
moonlight grove with rapture ! ***** — 
Probably she never spoke with greater power, 
or more effect ! — The stillness of midnight, 
contrasted with the voice of warning to the 
impenitent ! 

This sermon, I afterwards learned, was 
made the power of God, unto the salvation 
of several immortal souls. — One young man 
who was awakened, gave himself no rest, 



48 M E M O I R . 

until he found peace in believing. He after- 
wards went to sea, where he made his grave 
with the monsters of the deep. — But he left 
an evidence behind, that, though his body 
might be rolling in the d ep blue ocean, his 
soul was at rest with God ! " 



49 



CHAPTER III. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

" Women are not for rule designed, 
Nor yet for blind submission. " 

Having in the two former chapters noticed 
her conversion, and some of the reasons 
why she supposed God had called her to 
preach his everlasting gospel, the reader will 
pardon me, if I now call his attention back to 
the period where we closed the first chapter. 

At the time of her conversion in 1822, she 
was at work in the weaving room in the 
factory at Hopewell, Taunton, for the Rich- 
mond Company. When she commenced her 
labors in the factory we are unable to say ; 
but it was probably about the year 1821. 
And here I would remark, that combined 
with piety and talent, Salome was industri- 
ous. After she began to travel and preach ; 
as she received but little from others, she was 
accustomed to work with her hands to clothe 
herself; and then go out on her missions of 
5* 



50 MEMOIR. 

love, till it was expended ; being too sensitive 
to say anything in relation to her circumstan- 
ces, and the church too covetous to inquire. -* 
Once she was over one hundred miles from 
home, without one cent of money ; but God, 
who from time immemorial has supplied the 
wants of his children, provided friends for her, 
and thus she was enabled to return. The 
Psalmist says ; — " I have never seen the righ- 
teous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread." 
This is a consoling thought to the poor min- 
ister, who has sacrificed all for the cause of 
Christ, and embarked on the stormy sea — 
life's troubled ocean, perplexed with cares 
at home and abroad — shunned by worldly 
wisdom, frowned upon by the ungodly — 
and destined to meet with new difficulties at 
every corner. He that embarks in this en- 
terprise, stimulated by hopes of gain, or self 
emolument, will be very liable to make ship- 
wreck of faith before he has sailed far ! The 
faithful minister receives not his reward here, 
but in heaven. 

Salome continued to work in the factory 

* This remark will not apply to every place — as there 
were honorable exceptions— and the Lord will reward every 
one according to their deeds. 



AT WORK IN THE FACTORY. 51 

at Hopewell, until the first of May, 1S29, 
when an unforeseen circumstance occurred 
which deprived her of work. The circum- 
stance is briefly this : 

For some cause, the corporation reduced 
the wages in the weaving department, where 
Salome was then at work. The girls indig- 
nant at this, bound themselves under an obli- 
gation, not to go back into the mill, until the 
former prices were restored ; and this not 
being granted, they formed themselves into a 
procession, and marched through the streets, 
to the green in front of the Court house. 
The procession started from Hopewell, about 
the middle of the forenoon. They were 
in uniform, — having on black silk dresses, 
with red shawls, and green calashes. They 
then went into a hall near the common, in 
order to listen to an address. Salome was 
selected as the orator of the day. She then 
took the stand, and in her own peculiar style, 
eloquently addressed them at considerable 
length, on the subject of their wrongs ; after 
which th-ey quietly returned to their homes. 

For one inducement, and another, nearly 
all who had turned out at this time, re- 
turned into the factory again, and resumed 



52 MEMOIR. 

their work. But not so with Salome! — She 
manfully refused to violate her word ; but 
chose rather, to leave business — and break 
up all the social and religious ties she had 
formed ; than to deviate from the paths of 
rectitude. After this she never worked in 
the factory again at Taunton ; but sought 
employment elsewhere, and was successful. 

After leaving the factory at Hopewell, she 
returned home, where she remained about 
two weeks, and then went to Easton, Mass. 
to work in the mill for Mr. Barzilla Dean. * 
She worked for him at two different periods. 
First from May 19th, 1829, to May 29, 1830 ; 
when she left for a short season, but returned 
in the fall of the same year, and continued 
to work for him until February 4, 1831. 

While living at Easton, she boarded with 
her employer. Says Mr. Dean, — "When 
in my family, she lived a devoted christian 
life : All her leisure moments, she spent in 
reading the Bible. " Says another individ- 
ual ; a member of the same family : — " She 
always used to kneel before retiring. It 

* Mr. Dean's factory is located in Easton, about one mile 
from the Meeting-house, and ten miles north of Taunton 
Greeiu 



AT WORK INTHE FACTORY. 53 

looked strange to me then ; but it made no 
difference if all the girls were present ; and 
among her associates in the mill, there were 
some, who were very rude ; but she would 
frequently check them. " 

While at Easton, she attended meeting 
with the Episcopal Methodist, and took a 
prominent part in their conferences, where 
her talents shone with peculiar lustre. Says 
Eld. Benton, who was then preaching there, 
" She possessed an uncommon mind for one 
of her sex. She was good in Scripture, and 
was endowed with talents, which, when con- 
secrated to the service of God, were capable 
of making her extensively useful. " 

In the month of June 1829, Salome was 
reduced very low with a fever. She was con- 
fined to her bed, at her father's in Raynham, 
for upwards of three weeks ; but according 
to her own relation her mind was stayed on 
God. — July 5th, although extremely weak, 
she was able to attend a Quarterly meet- 
ing at Rehoboth, and she gradually regained 
her strength, and by the blessing of God, 
was soon able to resume her labor. 

Several years elapsed from the time Sister 
Lincoln preached her first sermon in 1S27, 



54 MEMOIR. 

until she gave herself wholly to the work ; 
yet she was not idle, as she improved the 
many opportunities that offered of doing good. 
During this period, she struggled on between 
hope and despair; and sometimes she would 
leave the mill for a short season, and go out 
to attend meetings, and on these occasions 
her soul would find matter for encourage- 
ment, and duty would seem clear ! Had she 
yielded to these impressions ; undoubtedly 
she would have enjoyed more of the presence 
of God ; but individuals are not usually wil- 
ling to conform immediately to the convic- 
tions of duty, especially when it is crossing, 
and for this neglect God frequently severely 
chastises them. 

In April of 1829 — Salome again attempted 
to preach. Whether she had preached pre- 
vious to this, since the time of her first dis- 
course, we have no notice ; but probably she 
did. This meeting was held at Capt. White's, 
in Raynham. — It was Saturday evening, and 
although the night was dark — and the storm 
fast gathering, a large number collected. — 
She addressed them from these words : — 
" Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh 
away the sins of the world." St. John i. 29. 



INCIDENTS WHILE AT E ASTON. 55 

After meeting she was requested to give out 
another appointment. She accordingly con- 
sented to preach the next day, {Sunday) at 
two o'clock ; but as she was going home 
Satan suggested to her, that she had said all 
that night she could, and she would have 
nothing remaining to add on the morrow. 

The next day she went to her appointment, 
but without a subject. The adversary of 
souls, who goeth about like a roaring lion, 
hurled his firey darts, thick around her, and 
led her to believe, that if she attempted to 
speak, she would get confounded. The peo- 
ple had began to assemble, she took her Bible, 
but searched in vain for a text. Here she was, 
as Satan had told her — the hour arrived — 
the audience assembled — no text — no sub- 
ject — and nothing to say ! — What could she 
do ? — Perhaps she might have felt as Eld. 
Colby did, when on one occasion, about the 
first of his preaching, after getting confound- 
ed, like going to the river and drowning her- 
self. But in this instance God who is a 
present help in every time of need, supplied 
her with a subject, in season to deliver a 
feeling discourse, from the Psalmist — "If the 
foundations be destroyed, what can the righ- 
teous do.'' — Psalms xi. 3. 



56 MEMOIR. 

She gave another appointment for the next 
Sabbath at a Mr. Smith's, and when the time 
arrived spoke from these words, — 

"So the ship master came to him, and said 
unto him, what meanest thou O sleeper ? Arise 
and call upon thy God ; if so be, God will 
think upon us, and we perish not !" — Jonah 
i. 6. 

The year 1830, was noted for a powerful 
revival of religion in Easton, and its vicinity. 
It is said to have been the most extensive, 
ever known in that section, and in this work, 
Sister Lincoln was actively engaged. In 
speaking of it in a letter to a friend, she 
says : — ***** « The ark of the Lord 
seems to be moving on ! The brethren and 
sisters, labor like those accustomed to the 
yoke ! about twelve professed faith in Christ, 
during the first four days, and last evening 
we numbered about one hundred and twenty 
at the altar for prayers ! — Since then the 
work has moved onward with power. This 
work far surpasses any thing I ever saw, all 
classes and ages from eleven to ninety, are 
the subjects of divine grace. It is still spread- 
ing with power and glory ! " 

Connected with her history at Easton, are 



INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 57 

some pleasing associations. She formed a 
large circle of acquaintance and friends, to 
whom she was ardently attached through life. 
Among her most intimate companions, was 
Sophronia Packard, who worked in the same 
room with her, and hoarded in the same 
family. 

Sophronia experienced religion, during the 
revival in Easton in 1830. She was then at 
home, and Salome and another lady was 
there on a visit, Sophronia was deeply dis- 
tressed in her mind, and requested Sister 
Lincoln to pray with her. They then knelt 
together, the two ladies on either side, while 
Salome addressed the throne of grace in a 
solemn and feeling manner ; and when they 
arose the other lady remarked to her : — 

" Sophronia has received light." 

" I know it — I know it !" replied Salome. 

The clouds of darkness were dispelled 
from her mind, and the glorious Son of righ- 
teousness spoke peace to her wounded soul. 

From this time, to the time of her death 
she lived a devoted christian. She died hap- 
py, and just before departing this life to be 
with Jesus, she exhorted her husband to pre- 



6 



58 MEMOIR. 

pare to meet her at the judgment seat of 
Christ. 

The day she was taken sick, seven weeks 
before her death, she wrote some resolutions 
to govern her future life ; and excepting an 
inscription addressed to her husband, to be 
placed on her tablet, this was her last busi- 
ness, having been taken sick the same night. 
The following is an extract : — 

" This day do I fully surrender myself to 
Thee, to be thine through Time and Eter- 
nity ! All that I have, and am to be disposed 
of, as thou seest fit. Grant Lord to give 
me grace to perform, and strength to fulfil 
all the obligations I make this day to thee. 
O Lord, I beseech thee to keep me unspotted 
from the world ! May every morning of my 
life, witness a renewal of myself to thee ! 
#'#' # # # Grant me grace sufficient to keep 
this resolution ; — and may this solemn vow 
not be broken, till death seals in silence, my 
mortal tongue." 

SOPHRONIA II. SNELL. * 

She has gone ! Her happy spirit, freed 
from its tenement of clay, and accompanied, 
by angels, took its flight away from earth, Sep- 

* Her name after marriage. 



INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 59 

tember 7, 1837, to reap the rich reward of 
the christian. She could say with the poet, — 

° Ye glittering toys of earth adieu, 

A nobler choice he mine ; 
A real prize attracts my view, 

A treasure all divine !" 

Said one of old, " Let me die the death of 
the righteous, and let my last end be like his." 
There is a marked contrast between the 
death-bed scene of the righteous, and the un- 
godly, him that is prepared, and him who 
hath squandered life away, until his glass has 
run out, without securing an interest in the 
kingdom of heaven ! 

The ardent attachment formed between 
these two individuals, remained unshaken till 
death. The following extract from a letter, 
written by Sister Lincoln, will serve to show 
the nature of that friendship. It was written 
at Easton, and elated June 10, 1830. 

This letter independent of the sentiment, 
will serve to illustrate her brilliant style of 
writing. I think it among one of the most 
excellent productions I have ever read, and 
would recommend it to the careful perusal of 
every reader. It reads as follows : — 

"Dear Friend : —In compliance with your 
request, I now propose to dedicate a few 



60 MEMOIR. 

lines to you, as a memorial of that friendship, 
which commenced with our first acquaint- 
ance, and has strengthened till I find you 
twining like a silver chord around my heart— 
A friendship so sacred that death itself can- 
not dessolve the tie that hinds us together ! 
But when life's flickering lamp has ceased to 
burn, and our bodies are consigned to the pale 
mansions of the dead, I humbly trust our 
kindred spirits will rise through the ethereal 
blue, to those mansions of eternal rest, where 
no sorrow or distress, will ever have admit- 
tance for one moment, to mar our felicity, or 
disturb the aspiration of praise, to the great 
fountain of all happiness ! 

I rejoice exceedingly in the choice you 
have made in early life of religion. You 
have enlisted in the best of all causes, and 
some experience has taught me that wisdom's 
ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her 
paths are peace. 

Though your paths may not always be 
strewed with thornless roses ; yet you will find 
by a close walk with God, every trial will 
be sweetened, and your path will grow brighter 
and brighter until the perfect day." 

Yours &c, Salome Lincoln. 



INCIDENTS WHILE AT EASTON. 61 

Life's flickering lamp in both these indi- 
viduals has now gone out, and doubtless their 
kindred spirits are united in heaven ! It is a 
pleasing reflection to the christian, that though 
death may sever earthly ties ; yet in heaven 
we shall be re-united, forever beyond the 
influence of dissolution. 

At the death of Sister Lincoln, the follow- 
ing memento was found among her papers : 

TO SALOME. 

" Go lovely girl o'er distant hills, 
Some friend more blest than I to find ; 

And when the evening dew distills, 
Let memory call past scenes to mind ! 

'Thy joys — thy sorrows here to share, 

Perhaps will never be my lot ; 
But thou may'st grant this fervant prayer, 
Forget me not— -forget me not ! 

And when the flowers of summer, bloom 

Upon the grave where I shall sleep, 
Come then and on my silent tomb, 

One tear of friendship kindly weep." 

Sophronia H. Packard. 



6* 



62 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER. 

"" Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every 
creature." — Christ. 

Beautiful upon the mountains, 
Are the messengers of peace." — Adams. 

Amid all the trials, attending the labors of 
the faithful minister, there is a pleasure in 
preachi?ig the gospel, which has its rise, from 
knowing that we are useful as the servants of 
Christ, and from complying with the convic- 
tion which God has implanted in our bosom, 
that it is our duty. Now if it be true, that 
man cannot satisfy the requisitions thus made, 
and hence enjoy happiness ; and if God has 
implanted the same conviction of duty, in 
the breast of woman, how can she any more 
than man, rest satisfied or expect happiness, 
unless she obey the calls of God ? 

I expect that in heaven, woman will occu- 
py as high a rank among the happy myriads, 
as man, and will tune her voice in the praises 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 63 

of God, as high as any of the angels, who 
have sung in paradise for ages. But her 
voice will be melodious there, in proportion 
to her faithfulness here. This being the case 
there is an incentive for ivoman, as well as 
man, to forsake all and follow Christ. 

It was this that actuated Salome to leave 
father and mother, brother and sister, neigh- 
bors and friends, and to break up all the 
social relations of life in order to Preach the 
Gospel ; and if there is joy in heaven over 
one sinner that repenteth, who would wish to 
deprive her, or any other woman from par- 
ticipating in that joy. 

As the spring of 1830 wore away, and as 
the tender buds began to swell, and summer's 
splendor to dawn, her heart expanded with 
benevolence ; and she began to feel still more 
deeply for the lost condition of a dying world. 
In view of this she resolved to forsake all, 
and proclaim the glad tidings of salvation. 
Accordingly May 18th, she left the factory at 
Easton, and made preparation for more ex- 
tended usefulness. 

One week before she left Easton, as she 
was returning on the Sabbath from meeting, 
she stopped by the way at five o'clock to at- 



04 MEMOIR. 

tend a conference. A cloud of darkness, 
according to her own relation, hovered over 
her mind, and she felt as though her soul was 
barren, and she should have nothing to do or 
say. She entered the room, and took her 
seat, but on casting her eye around, discov- 
ered one with whom she labored. 

This girl was seriously inclined, and one 
whom Salome highly esteemed ; but of any- 
thing further, she was not aware. Yet there 
was a silent whispering within, which told her 
that all was not right. As the contest was 
going on between the enemy and the spirit, 
Salome arose to speak ; and the first word 
she uttered was like a nail, fastened in a sure 
place ; it sunk deep into the heart of her 
friend, and when the meeting closed, she 
found her under deep concern of mind for 
the salvation of her soul. From this meet- 
ing they repaired to a class meeting, where 
her friend was soon basking in the sunshine 
of God's Eternal Love, his spirit testifying 
with her spirit, that she was born again. 

The first discourse that Sister Lincoln 
preached after leaving Easton, was at Hope- 
well, at the residence of Mrs. Hall. It be- 
ing the place where she had formerly worked, 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 65 

and many of her old acquaintance still re- 
maining, she naturally had fears in relation 
to what they would think and say. But not- 
withstanding this she went boldly forward in 
the discharge of duty, and when the hour for 
meeting arrived, the house was crowded with 
spectators, many of whom had doubtless 
come with no other view, than to hear Salome 
Li?icoln. There are many individuals, who 
will turn out to meeting when some stranger, 
or exciting preacher is to be present, when 
in the same places, on ordinary occasions, 
the house of God is left desolate. 

Her text on this occasion, was from Deu. 
xxxii. 11, 12, "As an eagle stirreth up her 
nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth 
abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them 
on her wings ; so the Lord alone did lead him, 
and there was no strange god with him. " 

This sermon was preached the 28th of 
May, and the next day being Saturday, she 
went in company with Miss Liscom * to a 
town a few miles S. W. of Taunton, where 

* Elizabeth Liscom, now Freach. To her Salome was 
ardently attached, and from her she received as much en- 
couragement during her severe trials, as from any other in- 
dividual. 



66 M EMOIR. 

she spent the Sabbath. During the day she 

attended meeting with the , * and 

listened to the discourse of a young man by 
the name of B * * * *. At six o'clock that 
evening, being requested, she consented to 
preach in a school house, in the immediate 
vicinity ; but during the interval strong oppo- 
sition was raised among some of the brethren, 
and when arrived at the place of appoint- 
ment, they found that no preparation had 
been made, and the door fast locked. How- 
ever, two ladies wjent and obtained the key, 
and opened the door. The house was soon 
densely crowded, and as not near all could get 
in, they were forced to take out the windows, 
in order that those outside might hear. She 
commenced the exercises by giving out the 
following hymn, well adapted, not only to 
her own feelings, but to the occasion. — 

:" Savior of men, thy searching eye, 
Doth all my inmost thoughts descry ; 

Doth aught on earth, my wishes raise 
Or the world's pleasure, or its praise 1 

* The name of the town, together with the denomination 
and individuals, are kept behind the curtain, as strong sec- 
tarian prejudice was probably manifested, and the respect we 
have to individual feeling, leads us not to name them. 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 67 

The love of Christ, doth me constrain, 
To seek the ivandering soids of men; 

With cries, entreaties, tears to save, 
To snatch them from the gaping grave. 

For this let men revile my name ; 

No cross I shun, I fear no shame : 
All hail reproach ! and welcome pain — 

Only thy terrors, Lord restrain ! 

Give me thy strength, O God of power! 

Then let winds blow, and thunders roar ; 
Thy faithful witn ess will f be, 

Tis fixed — / can do all through Thee V 

No one can tell the conflicting emotions, 
which filled the breast of Salome on this occa- 
sion. The embarrassing circumstances under 
which she was placed, was enough to have 
put to test the feelings of the harder sex. 

Urgently requested to preach, by those 
too, whom she reasonably presumed were 
her friends, and then as she moved forward, 
innocently, and honestly, as she thought in 
the discharge of duty — to find herself alone, 
and unprotected save by a few female friends, 
the way apparently hedged up, the door 
locked against her, and to witness the silent 
whisperings of scornful reproach, was ex- 
tremely severe. But in justice to our de- 
parted Sister, and others concerned, we are 



6S MEMOIR. 

bound to say ; that if there was any prejudice 
previously existing, it was of but short dura- 
tion, as on the next day, she received through 
the hands of Miss Liscom, the following 
polite note : — 

" Sister Lincoln : — Without doubt you have 
heard that I did not like to have you preach 
in this neighborhood. That report is not 
true, for I should be glad to have you preach 
here often. The report was through misun- 
derstanding, or evil intentions. The reason 
why I did not attend meeting, was, my busi- 
ness rendered it impracticable. I should be 
glad tc have you come and preach here, 
whenever you can make it convenient. And 
when our house is finished, our pulpit shall 
be at your service." 

Yours with Christian affection, 

She remained at * * * * about two weeks, 
and held other meetings, and then returned 
to Taunton. 

She next went to Rochester Neck. Roch- 
ester is a town in the southern part of Ply- 
mouth county. At Rochester she found many 
friends, among whom were Eldrs. Johnston 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. G9 

and Minor, and while here she preached sev- 
eral times ; once in a school house on Roch- 
ester Neck. The notice had been previously 
given out by Eld. Johnston, — the house 
was well filled, and the Lord manifested his 
presence in the midst. She says: — " I felt 
rather awkward on account of Elder Johns- 
ton being present, but I made the best of it 
I could, and as soon as I had concluded, he 
gave out notice that I would preach again in 
the evening. I went to my appointment that 
evening, as deliberately as ever I went to a 
day's work in my life. The house was very 
much crowded, besides a large number who 
could not get in, and were forced to stand 
outside." 

The next Sabbath she attended a meeting, 
and preached in the same neighborhood ; but 
so large a number assembled at the school 
house, that it was thought best to hold the 
meeting in a grove near by. Elder Johnston 
preached in the morning, and Sister Lincoln 
in the afternoon. The scene on this occasion 
was truly sublime. Surrounded as she was 
by a large concourse of people, of both 
sexes, and of all ages, some of whom had 
come miles to hear The Female Preacher^ and 
7 



70 MEMOIR. 

who then stood listening 1 with breathless at- 
tention to the plain truths of the gospel, as 
they eloquently escaped from her lips, while 
she stood sheltered from the scorching rays 
of the sun, under the spreading branches of 
a lofty tree. The next Sabbath after, she 
preached in what is called the Old Spruce 
Meeting-house in Middleborough. * With 
regard to her discourse there, but little is 
known by the author. She spent several 
weeks in preaching in this section, and then 
left for the Cape. After leaving Rochester 
she spent several months in preaching at 
Harwich, Chatham, Orleans, Falmouth and 
Brewster. At Brewster she was the happy 
witness of several hopeful conversions. 

She went to Falmouth sometime in the 
month of September, to a camp-meeting held 
at a place commonly called Wayquoit, and 
sometimes East Falmouth. On the fourth 
day of the meetings the preachers were obliged 
to leave, but Salome remained. The work 
of the Lord already powerfully begun, was 

* Middleborough is in the South West part of Plymouth 
County ; aud the Old .Spruce meeting-house, now standing, 
is about six miles South East from Middleborough Four 
Corners. 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 71 

rapidly spreading, and twelve individuals who 
on the morning of that day were in the gall 
of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity, 
before night were rejoicing in the Lord. 

She continued to hold meetings for the 
several succeeding nights, and a large num- 
ber more were converted. In speaking of 
this revival, she says, — "The Lord has 
worked like himself — a wonder working God. 
It is the Lord's doings, and it is marvellous 
in our eyes. It cannot be said in this neigh- 
borhood, as it is frequently said in others, 
during revivals of religion, that it is only 
among the weak and silly women, or the 
lower classes in society, for it is chiefly con- 
fined to the young men, and those too of 
promising talents, and from the first class in 
society." 

And here I would add ; how frequently is 
the ear pained, and the heart of the faithful 
christian melted by expressions like those 
alluded to in the above, and that too from 
men, whose convictions of truth and duty, at 
the same time, teach them better — just as 
though Heaven and Immortal Glory, was 
good enough for the poor and despised I — 
But as for them, they have no concern about 



72 MEMOIR. 

the future ! Such men, will do well to re- 
flect, that they have a soul to be saved or lost, 
a soul of immortal worth ! — Yes, ten thovsand 
worldshke this, with all its riches, and hon- 
ors would not pay for the Ransom of such a 
soul ! And again they will do well to reflect 
upon the death-bed scene of Thomas Paine, 
and some other noted infidels ; who, as the 
lamp of life went out were left in the most 
abject misery, calling upon an insulted Savior 
to have mercy ! 

It was during this revival, that two young 
men, Benjamin and Simeon Eldrich were 
converted. They were men of promising 
talent, highly respected among their acquaint- 
ance, and devotedly pious. What is still 
more remarkable, but a short time after their 
conversion, they had strong presentiment of 
their approaching death. They both followed 
the sea, and Simeon but a few days before 
he left home for the last time, went through 
the neighborhood — took leave of the hills 
and trees, and as he left each family, invari- 
ably remarked, that it was his fixed convic- 
tion that he should never return. About the 
same period he attended a meeting in the 
vicinity, and there remarked, — " Some doubt 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. /<J 

that I am willing to die. They say, it is faith 
untried ! I will think of it, I am willing to 
die ! — I will think of it again — I am loilling 
to die ! — I will think of it thrice — I am wil- 
ling to die ! — The moment my spirit leaves 
the body, it will be in immortal glory ! " — 
Who after witnessing such christian fortitude, 
can for a moment doubt the virtue of religion, 
or, that 

" Jesus can make a dying bed, 

Feel soft as downy pillows are. " 

Soon after this, he went to sea in a vessel 
bound for New York, and was lost ! 

Benjamin, though equally impressed with 
a conviction that the hour drew near for him 
to depart this life, yet being more retiring, 
said less about it, to those around him. He 
was lost from the Schooner Spy, bound from 
New York to Baltimore. He was passing 
the lead in the evening, in order to get the 
sounding, and unperceived fell overboard, 
and was drowned. They have gone from 
whence no traveller returns ; but in the lan- 
guage of the sacred penman, — " Blessed are 
the dead that die in ihe Lord." 

Sister Lincoln remained at East Falmouth, 
and vicinity, until about the last of October. 
7* 



74 MEMOIR. 

Her time while there was well spent, in 
preaching, visiting and attending conferen- 
ces. From a letter written home to her pa- 
rents, we learn that while gone, at this time, 
she preached between thirty and forty dis- 
courses. This for a female just beginning, 
and not in the enjoyment of very good health 
was a large amount of labor. 

An anecdote is related of her while on the 
Cape in 1830 showing her ardent attachment 
to the cause of Christ, and the deep interest 
she felt in the salvation of others. A party 
was collected to go to the beach to enjoy a 
short recreation, and among those who joined 
them, were two young men, who I should 
judge had not much respect for themselves, 
for religion, or for any thing else of a weighty 
character. They were seated on what is 
called by those who reside on the beach a 
Horsefoot. Salome in her usually friendly 
and feeling manner, went up to them and 
enquired if they enjoyed religion. The 
only reply they made was, this Horsefoot is 

hard, and rudely left her. But if their 

consciences were not seared as with a hot 
iron, they heard those words resounding in 
their ears for more than one twenty-four 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 75 

hours after, and if now living out of Christ, 
though her tongue is silenced in death, yet 
she speaketh in an audible voice, in the lan- 
guage then used — " young men ! do you enjoy 
religion ? " Prepare before your day of 
probation ceases, to answer this question, at 
the judgment seat of Christ ! 

After returning home, she went back to 
work in the factory at Easton, where she re- 
mained till sometime in the month of Febru- 
ary 1831, when she bid a final adieu to the 
factories, for a higher and nobler calling. 

" How beauteous are their feet, 
Who stand on Zion's Hill ; 
Who bring salvation on their tongues^ 
And words of peace reveal ! " 

With these passing remarks on the life of 
Sister Lincoln, I shall now close the chapter; 
and in doing which, it is becoming that we 
pause and reflect. In the life of Sister 
Lincoln, we see exemplified in a striking 
manner, not only a strong mind, a resolute 
perseverence — a character signalized for its 
deep toned piety, and strict adherence to 
truth; but the saered regard of God for his 
children. 



76 



CHAPTER V. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER. 
Continued. 

" Home, thy joys are passing lovely ; 

Joys no stranger heart can tell, 
Happy home, indeed I love thee — 

Can I, can I say farewell 1 s> 

Only those who have been called away 
from the endearments of home, can conceive 
of the feelings that agitate the bosom, as the 
hour rapidly hastens on, when we are to 
separate ourselves from those we love, and 
leave the scenes of youth behind, for a resi- 
dence among strangers. It is then that the 
past with all its beauties, and the future with 
all its forbodings, crowd in upon the mind, 
mingling pain with pleasure. In youth, time 
lays her finger heavily upon memory^ and 
stamps her images with indelible impress; 
so that on an occasion like the one I am de- 
scribing, we remember all the pleasing asso- 
ciations connected with youth. 

It is then, that we call to mind the many 
happy hours we have spent under the foster- 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 



77 



ing care of our parents — We remember the 
sports of childhood — Our school-day scenes — 
and how, that let loose from confinement, 
our hearts would bound with joy, and our 
bodies glad to be freed, would keep time to 
its action, as we sped away to join our m rry 
companions. And as we sat at the window 
of the coach, which was bearing us away, 
gazing upon objects rendered familiar from 
having been oft visited, we realized, perhaps 
for the first time, how far short earthly plea- 
sures fall of imparting happiness ! And then 
too we felt the uncertainty of life. 

Perhaps this is the last — came to the mind 
with force, and stole a tear ! I have stood 
around the bed of a dear earthly relative, * 
and heard the last expiring breath, as the 
spirit took its departure, and seen the eye 
silently close in death, and felt to say, " thy 
will be done." I felt on such an occa- 
sion that my loss was his eternal gain. But to 
tear myself from home, knowing not where 
my lot might be cast, or how my path might 
be strewed — and called to gaze upon the 
faces of those I loved, knowing not where 
we should meet again, far surpassed every 
* A Father. 



78 MEMOIR. 

thing else, I have ever experienced. Many 
a time on such an occasion, I have felt to say 
with the poet, 

Can I — can I say farewell ? 

But after a few more such meetings and 
partings, have come and gone, we shall all 
part or meet, to part no more ! 

Sometime in the month of May or June 1831 , 
Sister Lincoln again left home, to spend the 
summer in Barnstable and Dukes Go's., Mass. 
Previous to this date she had spent but little 
time out of her own immediate circle of 
acquaintance, except for a short season to 
visit or preach. But now the scale turned ; 
as after the spring of 1S31, she only occa- 
sionally visited home — and from 1S31 to the 
time of her marriage, she was constantly im- 
merging into new society, and forming new 
associations. 

The first place she visited, after leaving 
home this summer, (1831 ) was Pocassett, avil- 
lage in Sandwich, * Mass. She went to Po- 
casset to attend a protracted meeting, and 
while there stopped in the family of Br. Alvin 
Swift. She preached several times, and from 

* A town in the North West part of Barnstable County. 



THE FEMALE PREACHER. 79 

there went again to East Falmouth, the place 
where she visited and preached in IS30. 

Her labors here, were in conjunction with 
those of a young man by the name of Pierce, 
a preacher among the Reformed Methodist. 
He had been preaching there for some time, 
and was successful in winning souls to Christ. 
At this time Salome preached for several 
weeks, and occasionally visited there for one 
or two of the following years. And besides 
the places which we shall mention, there are 
probably a large number of others, in the 
vicinity and adjoining towns, where she vis- 
ited, of which we have no definite knowledge. 

It is not my object to trace her in all her 
journey ings from town to town, and village 
to village, and give a minute description of 
every place and sermon, and in fact it would 
be impossible ; and such a course would 
prove both monotonous and uninteresting. 
Therefore if I lay before the reader, some of 
the more prominent details, I shall have ac- 
complished all he can reasonably expect. 

From East Falmouth she went to Holmes' 
Hole, a village which takes its name from its 
harbor, in the town of Tisbury, on Martha's 
Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard embraces one 



80 MEMOIR . 

entire county, (Duke's,) and is situated in 
the South East part of Mass. It is an island, 
about six miles from the main land. Holmes' 
Hole is on the north side. It has a beauti- 
ful harbor, which makes a safe resort for 
vessels during a storm. Martha's Vineyard,* 
like Nantucket is isolated from the rest of the 
world ; and one would almost suppose that 
its inhabitants, could enjoy the paradise of 
Eden. 

Besides the one already named, (Tisbury) 
there are two other large towns, Chilmark 
and Edgartown ; at these places Salome spent 
considerable time. 

She went to Martha's Vineyard about the 
first of July 1831, f with Bro. Hiram Chase 
and wife. Bro. Chase was at East Falmouth 
on a visit, where he spent the Sabbath, with 
his wife's mother. Salome had for a long 

* Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and I think the Eliza- 
beth Islands, as related by tradition, derived their names 
from the three daughters of a wealthy gentleman, Martha, 
Nancy, and Elizabeth, who received those lands as their 
possession. For the truth of this I shall not be responsible. 

t Sister Chase states, that they carried her to the is- 
land for the first time she was ever there, in 1831. She 
s probably correct ; but I find one reference, and only one 
of her being there in 1830, which is probably incorrect. 



THE PREACHER. 81 

time wished to visit the island ; but till now, 
the way never seemed to be open. 

On the Sabbath alluded to, Br. Pierce 
preached in the forenoon, and Salome in the 
afternoon. She had for several days been 
unwell, and that day so much so, that she 
kept her bed, until the time of meeting, and 
then went to her appointment. 

After meeting Mrs. Chase proposed that 
she should accompany them to the Vineyard, 
remarking at the same time, that she might 
make it her home with them, as long as she 
remained on the island. * Having had strong 
impressions that God had something for her 
to do there, she cheerfully accepted the kind 
offer, and accordingly made immediate prep- 
aration to leave East Falmouth. 

The first place she preached on the Vine- 
yard, was at the old meeting house belonging 
to the Calvinist Baptist in Holmes' Hole. — 
Her text was : — " Is there no balm in Gilead ; 
is there no physician there ?"-Jeremiah viii. 22. 

On this occasion she spoke to a crowded 
house, and a listening congregation ; and 
many who heard her, were melted to tears. 

After this she frequently preached there, 

* Br. Chase's residence is at Holmes' Hole. 
8 



82 MEMOIR. 

but not much in the meeting-houses, as the 
desks were made the sanctum sanctorum^ and 
were too sacred for the proclamation of Free 
and unmerited Salvation, from the lips of one 
of God's Female Servants.^ But we have 
reason to rejoice that the gospel is the power 
of God unto salvation, whether it is preached 
by a D. D., or a common Street Beggar. — 
And still more, it is declared : — " God hath 
chosen the foolish things of the world, to 
confound the Wise; and God hath chosen 
the Weak Things of the world, to confound, 
the things which are mighty."! While she 
remained at Holmes' Hole, she held her 
meetings principally at private houses ; and 
by a strict christian deportment, she gathered 
many worthy friends around her, many of 
whom, will remember her labors there with 
gratitude and thanksgiving to God. 

Says a friend : — " I expect to see her in a 

* It is -worth}- of note, that after spending much time in 
another section of the Island, and witnessing many hope- 
ful conversions, and after gathering around her a large circle 
of christian friends, who were attached to her, and that 
when about leaving, she remarked to a friend, "I have no 

pastor to send them, and Br. B must take charge of 

the lambs of the flock. 

t 1 Cor. i. 27. 



THE PREACHER. 83 

feiv days. * Salome will stand in her lot and 
place ! Her preaching here was powerful. 
The aged, the middle-aged and young, of 
both sexes, and from all ranks in society, 
were awakened and led to seek an interest 
in Christ." 

On the 25th of July she left Holmes' Hole, 
and went to North Shore, another part of 
Tisbury, about four miles from the last named 
place. The circumstances connected with 
her going to North Shore, are briefly these : 
Having heard of her preaching at Holmes' 
Hole, several individuals from there, came 
down to attend the meetings ; and after 
meeting, being urgently requested to visit 
that place, she consented to go. In view of 
going there she remarked to a friend : — 
u It is God that calls, and i" must go / " 

The remaining part of the year 1831, and 
a portion of 1832 and '33, she spent in preach- 
ing, and holding meetings at the North Shore 
and in the adjoining section. The Lord was 
with her, and witnessed her labors, by giving 
her souls, as seals of her ministry. There is 
nothing more encouraging to the christian 

* The individual alluded to here, is a firm, though con- 
scientious believer in the second advent of Christ in 1843. 



84 MEMOIR. 

minister, than to see the sinner turning from 
the error of his ways, and becoming a devo- 
ted christian — beloved in the church, and 
useful in the world ! The sacred penman 
says : — " Let him know, that he which con- 
verted a sinner from the error of his ways, 
shall save a soul from death, and hide a mul- 
titude of sins." — James v. 20. 

While at the North Shore, she generally 
preached at the school house, but sometimes 
at a grove near by, in order to accommodate 
the large number who came to hear. 

The grove is a delightful spot, fitted up 
with seats, for the purpose of holding meet- 
ings during the summer months. On one 
occasion, while preaching at this place, in 
speaking of the tree under which she then 
stood, she said, — "When my body sleeps in 
the dust, this tree will speak." This remark 
is now distinctly remembered by those who 
then heard her, and in 1842, nine years after- 
wards, when a meeting of a similar character 
was again to be held there ; they were par- 
ticular in selecting the same tree for the 
preachers' stand, and the fact of her hav- 
ing preached there, was several times men- 



THE PREACHER. 85 

tioned. How pleasant a spot is often rendered 
for having been the resort of departed friends. 

On another occasion, (Sabbath morning,) 
as she came down from her chamber, she 
was in tears on account of her trials of mind. 
But she preached all day at the grove ; in 
the forenoon from a passage in the twenty- 
fifth chapter of Matthew, and in the after- 
noon from Acts xxvi. 13 — " At mid-day, O 
king ! I saw in the way, a light from heaven, 
above the brightness of the Sun." Says the 
individual who related this circumstance — 
" I seldom ever listened to a discourse, with 
so profound attention as on this occasion* 
I should not hesitate in pronouncing it, evan- 
gelical, beautiful and sublime !" * 

The same individual heard her preach 
again, a short time after from a text in Isaiah. 

The arrangement of her discourses, was 
usually very clear, and her divisions dis- 
tinctly marked, but as they were mental rather 
than written, we have not been able to give 
much in relation to the matter. But in this 

* This was related by Mr. Anthony Luce, a gentleman 
who is blind : and individuals of this class, usually hear 
more critically, than those who are blessed with perfect 
organs. 

8* 



86 MEMOIR. 

instance Mr. Luce gave us what he thinks a 
correct skeleton ; and as we have not hereto- 
fore, and shall not prohably hereafter be able 
to give a specimen, we will now insert it. 

"And a highway shall be there, and a 
way, and it shall be called, The way of holi- 
ness" — Isaiah xxxv. 8. 

She divided the subject in the following 
manner: viz. — 

I. She spoke of the Highway. 
Christ is the great Highway. 

II. She considered the way to the High- 
way. 

We are led to the Highway, 

(1.) By Consideration. 

(2.) By Prayer. 

(3.) By Faith. 

(4.) By Repentance. 

(5.) By living Holy Lives, &c. 

The following is an extract of a letter 
written to Elizabeth Liscom, and will show 
more fully the success attending her preach- 
ing this summer. It was written at 

Tisbury, September 5th, 1831. 

" Dear Eliza: — * * * * * After camp-meet- 
ing I spent three weeks in East Falmouth, 



THE PREACHER. 87 

and from there I came to the Vineyard, but 
did not expect to stop more than one or two 
weeks. At the first meeting I had in this 
place, I felt an uncommon anxiety for the 
people, yet I left the neighborhood, after 
spending one Sabbath. ****** J then 
went to the harbor, * which is about four 
miles, but the people followed me in my im- 
agination, and I had no rest, till a few days 
after, when a man came for me to go back. 
###*:* At the first meeting I held after re- 
turning, one backslider was reclaimed, and 
I have thought every week since, that I should 
leave the next, but the time has never come 
when I dared to go. I have now been here 
two months, and there is a greater prospect 
of my staying than ever. The cloud which I 
saw the first day I was here, has been in- 
creasing ever since, and a number of back- 
sliders have been reclaimed, one soul con- 
verted, and several more anxiously inquiring 
to know what they shall do to be saved. 
I have been called to converse with one, who 
was so deeply distressed that she was obliged 
to leave her school to come and see me ; and 
though she went away as she came, yet I 

* Holmes' Hole. 



88 MEMOIR. 

believe that she is near the kingdom of heaven* 
I have had some pretty severe trials since I 
have been here, yet no more than has been 
for my good. * ** * * I shall wait with impa- 
tience to hear from you. 

Yours as ever, 

Salome Lincoln." 
The young lady referred to in the above 
letter, was probably Emily Look, now the 
wife of Mr. Leonard Luce. She was the 
first individual that was converted at the 
North Shore, under Sister Lincoln's preach- 
ing. The meeting where she was awakened 
was held at Mr. Edmund Luce's, sometime 
in the month of September 1831.* While 
Sister Salome was speaking, her mind was 
so powerfully impressed, that she lost her 
self-control, and fell from her seat. Sister 
Lincoln stopped preaching, and went to her, 
and commenced praying. She exhorted her 
to say : — 

f c Here Lord I give myself away, 
>Tis all that I can do." 

The next evening, (Saturday,) another 
meeting was held at the residence of Br. David 

* It might have been in 1830, though Sister Luce thinks 
it was in 1831. 



THE PREACHER. 89 

Butler. Miss Look was still in great distress, 
but before the meeting closed, her burden left 
her, and soon she was singing praises and 
thanksgiving to him who had delivered her 
soul from the gall of bitterness and the bonds 
of iniquity. 

Sister Luce is still living in the enjoyment 
of religion ; and among all the converts 
awakened under her preaching, none seemed 
to produce a deeper effect upon the mind of 
Salome, as may be seen from a letter written 
by her ; the following is an extract : # 

Raynham, May 15*A, 1831. 
11 Bear Sister Emily : — It was with pleasure 
that I received your letter. I was glad to 
hear that you were trying to serve the Lord. 
O Sister, I feel a deep interest in your pros- 
perity ! You was the first I saw converted 
while I was on the Vineyard ; and although 
young, may you be a pattern of piety to 
those around you, and while others may treat 
the subject with indifference, may it not dis- 

* This letter had evidently been read and re-read, till it 
was literally worn up, so much so that it could never have 
had a place in this memoir, had not the author took a copy, 
as Sister Luce read a part, and from memory, having almost 
committed it, rehearsed the rest. 



90 MEMOIR. 

courage you in your path to heaven. Emily, 
be determined to be a christian in every 
sense of the word ! Pray and watch over 
your deportment ; and in order for this, let 
me advise you to spend a short season in 
prayer every morning. This will prepare 
you for the employment of the day, and will 
enable you to enter upon them with a suitable 
frame of mind. Be determined to do nothing 
that you cannot feel that God approves ; and 
never fear to be singular, when the customs 
of those around you are in opposition to the 
spirit of religion, but let the world know 
that you are determined to be the Lord's. — 
And may he bless you abundantly, and give 
you strength to resist every temptation, for 
am sensible you will have many. Dear 
Emily, my heart almost bleeds, when I think 
of your youth, and the trials to which you 
will be exposed, especially while the profes- 
sors of the religion of Jesus are in a luke- 
warm state. Should you backslide, and wound 
the innocent cause of the Bear Redeemer, 
it would rend my poor heart. Yes, I should 
much rather hear that you had gone to your 
long home in the triumphs of faith, than that 
you had renounced your belief in Christ. 



THE PREACHER. 91 

But I will hope better things. I trust that 
should I ever be permitted to come that way 
again, I shall find you growing in grace, and 
in the knowledge of the truths as it is in Christ 
Jesus ; and should we never be permitted to 
meet on earth, may we meet, where parting 
will be known no more ! * * * * * I hardly 
know where to close, for when I get to think- 
ing about the Vineyard people, I think of 
so many that I want to see, and so much 
that I want to say, that I hardly know where 
to stop. But I must close. 

Yours affectionately, 

Salome Lincoln. 
Soon after the conversion of Emily Look 
another individual — an intelligent young 
man was awakened ; it was at an evening 
meeting, held in the school house. He had 
just returned from sea, and went to hear her, 
and after sermon, Sister Lincoln gave an in- 
vitation for those who desired special prayers, 
to arise. He arose, remarking at the same 
time, that he did not do it from any partic- 
ular impression, but from a settled conviction 
of duty. It would be better, I apprehend, 
for the christian community, if every one 
acted from this principle. If this were the 



92 MEMOIR. 

case, the church would have less occasion to 
mourn over backsliders. He afterwards pro- 
fessed a hope in Christ, and is now a worthy 
member of His visible Church. 

Another fact is worthy of notice. While 
at the North Shore, she formed a Female 
Enquiring Meeting. These meetings have 
been continued until the present time, and 
have resulted in good. 

Her labors were not confined to the North 
Shore, nor exclusively to any particular de- 
nomination. She was not possessed with nar- 
row contracted sectarian views, it was not 
congenial with her nature. Whenever, or 
wherever she found the image of Christ, soul 
mingled with soul, and to such a one, she 
felt that she was bound by a chord stronger 
than earthly, and by ties dearer than those 
which unite parties, sects and denominations ; 
and with such a one, though she might differ 
on some minor points, she could heartily 
join, in carrying forward all the benevolent 
enterprises of the day. Her's was a Divine 
mission ; her credentials she received from 
the Prince of princes, and to his tribunal 
alone she stood accountable. Those who 
are so happy as to get to heaven, will find 



THE PREACHER. 93 

but one sect, one sentiment, and one feeling. 
There we shall all be united in enhancing the 
bliss of paradise. 

As opportunity offered while on the Vine- 
yard, she went out into other places, and 
before the close of the year, she had been 
nearly over the island ; and on several occa- 
sions received flattering invitations to preach 
in societies of a different denomination from 
the one to which she belonged. The follow- 
ing will serve as a specimen : 

Tisbury, September 3d, 1831. 

The undersigned, being a committee, legally 
authorized to supply the pulpit in the Con- 
gregationalist Meeting-house, of Tisbury with 
a Teacher, would be very glad to hear Miss 
Lincoln preach next Sabbath, or any other 
convenient time. 

We are very respectfully yours. 

C. G. A 

M.M . 

Among other places where she preached 

on the Vineyard, was Edgarton and Chil- 

mark.* She preached at Edgarton sometime 

* In relation to her labors at Chilmark, we know nothing 
definite, more than that she preached there at the residence 
of a Mr. Luce. We find notice of her being at Edgarton sev- 
eral different periods. 

9 



94 MEMOIR. 

between the first and middle of December ; 
but nothing more, than that she was counte- 
nanced by the collector of the port, can be 
accurately stated, as to the success which 
attended her visits, but we may reasonably 
suppose that heaven smiled on her untiring 
exertions for the salvation of immortal souls 
here, as well as in other places. The air she 
breathed on this secluded spot, was wafted 
from the atmosphere of heaven. It was un- 
tainted by party corruption, and unimpreg- 
nated by the damp vapors of the lower re- 
gions. 

Party feelings, and the divisions in the 
church, have done more to promote Infidel- 
ity than all the combined efforts of Hume, 
Paine, Voltaire, and a host of others. There 
will be no jarring or party strife in heaven, 
but in the language of Dr. Dwight : — " The 
happiness of heaven is not only unmingled, 
and consummate ; not only uninterrupted and 
immortal ; but ever progressive" 

Salome has gone to the haven of eter- 
nal rest, where many of the ransomed, not 
only from Martha's Vineyard, but elsewhere, 
will soon join her. She stands at the portal 
of heaven, ready to hail their happy spirits, 



THE PREACHER. 95 

as freed from the clogs of earth, one by one, 
they take their flight away to the blessed 
mansions of the Saints. 

With the close of this year (1831) Salome 
left the Vineyard, and returned to East Fal- 
mouth, and from thence to Raynham, to visit 
her friends. 

Martha's Vineyard is separated from the 
main land by the Vineyard sound ; * and all 
communication to and from, is carried on 
with boats. The mail is transported in a 
ferry-boat which runs from Falmouth to 
Holmes' Hole. It sometimes happens, that 
though the sea is perfectly calm in the harbor, 
yet before you have fairly made out from 
land, you find yourself tossed about in the 
midst of rough water. 

It was in this boat that Salome crossed 
when she left the Vineyard. When they 
started from the wharf, Mr. Ray the ferry- 
man, observed, that he had not had so good a 
prospect of a pleasant voyage for more than 
two months. Besides Salome, there was one 
other passenger. They had not proceeded 
far, however, before the prospect entirely 

* The distance across the sound, from Falmouth to 
Holmes' Hole is about six miles. 



96 MEMOIR. 

changed — the wind commenced blowing se- 
verely — the sea was boisterous, and the pros- 
pect anything but encouraging. The waves 
dashed so high, and beat against the boat 
with such violence, that they found it exceed- 
ingly difficult to keep their seats. They arrived 
at Falmouth about sunset, having been tossed 
about on the briny deep for the most part of 
the afternoon. She says, " I expected to have 
had to remain at Falmouth until the next 
morning, but as good fortune would have it, 
five minntes after I landed, Bro. Kimball, 
from East Falmouth with a horse and sleigh, 
called for me, and carried me directly there." 
Thus closed her labors for the year 1831 ; 
and in closing this chapter, I remark, that 
but few individuals have been more incessant 
in their exertion to do good, than Sister Sa- 
lome. And though oftentimes wearied with 
the monotonous round of duty, and often- 
times severely tried, yet she could respond 
with the poet — 

u There is a home of peaceful rest. 

To mourning wanderers given ; 
There is a tear for souls distressed; 

A balm for every wounded breast — 
'Tis found alone — in Heaven l" 



THE PREACHER. 97 

Besides preaching a large number of ser- 
mons, and attending- other meetings, she also 
labored with her hands, in order to supply 
herself with the necessary articles of apparel, 
and to meet the incidentary expenses attend- 
ing her travels, and in every way strove to be 
useful in the cause of Christ by winning souls 
to him. 



9* 



98 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE FEMALE PREACHER. 

Concluded. 

"Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after 
me, cannot be my disciple. 55 — Christ. 

Scenes of love and sacred friendship, 

I will bid you all farewell ; 
O'er the earth's wide face to wander, 

News of Jesus 5 love to tell ! 

In this life, we anticipate much happiness 
from the future, and eagerly grasp at objects 
not yet attained, and ere we reach them, they 
have like the empty bubble, quickly vanished 
away — the main happiness being derived from 
anticipation. 

Reader is not this strictly true ? 

How many sleepless nights you have spent 
in meditating upon some scene of plea- 
sure, which you fondly anticipated would 
yield a full cup of happiness ; but alas ! when 
the day, and the hour arrived how often has 
some trivial event, frustrated all your plans,, 
and sent you away sadly disappointed ! 

" But why is it so !" you ask. 



THE PREACHER. 99 

In reply, I would answer, it arises from the 
unstable nature of all earthly objects, and 
their insufficiency, without the aid of a higher 
and nobler principle, of imparting true hap- 
piness. 

Moses understood this, when he chose to 
suffer affliction with the people of God, pre- 
ferring the reproach of Christ, to the treasures 
of Egypt. * 

The three Pious Jews, understood this, 
when they chose to obey the King of Kings, 
and suffer the scorching flames of a fiery 
furnace, seven times heated, rather than to 
bow down to a wicked monarch, f 

Daniel understood this, when he chose a 
den of Lions, to the honors of the Medo- 
Persian Empire, and to serve the God of 
heaven, rather than his impious king. J 

The Prophets understood this, as they 
peaceably yielded their lives between the tem- 
ple and altar, § rather than to conform to the 
wicked customs of their backslidden nation. 

Stephen understood this, when he sweetly 

* Heb. xi. 24, 25. 

t Daniel iii. Chapter. 

* Daniel vi. 1-24. 

§ Acts vii. 52. Matthew xxiii. 34-36. 



100 MEMOIR. 

breathed out his life, in the midst of his per- 
secutors, rather than cease to testify of Christ 
and him crucified.*" 

All the martyrs, primitive christians, and the 
true church, understand, that in order to be- 
come a disciple of Jesus Christ, and meet with 
Divine Favor, and enjoy solid, unfading hap- 
piness, they must bid farewell to all the sin- 
ful pleasures of the world — be willing to 
bear his cross, and to have their names cast 
out as evil ; and if necessary to go to the 
stake — the scaffold — to the burning flames, 
and in a word, to suffer martyrdom in all its 
varied forms, rather than sacrifice truth on 
the altar of error. Here is the basis of true 
happiness — it is a choice pearl of great price, 
and is found alone in religion. He that seeks 
to find it in the world, will seek in vain, 

Our beloved Sister, whose memoir we are 
transmitting, understood this, when she at 
last yielded to duty, (though she knew it 
would make her unpopular) and began pub- 
licly to testify of Christ, and him crucified. 

But I am digressing, and to return : — On 
the first of January 1832, we find Salome 
again visiting at Raynham ; but by the fourth 
* Acts vii. 54-60. 



THE PREACHER. 101 

of February, she was mingling her prayers, 
with the prayers of her friends on Martha's 
Vineyard. 

The year 1832, is one that will long be re- 
membered in this country, on account of the 
cholera, which to some extent raged, spread- 
ing terror through the land. However, it 
was not so severely felt in New England, as 
was generally feared. 

When Sister Lincoln arrived at Holmes' 
Hole, a ship from Europe was lying there, 
on board of which, two individuals had died 
of this dreadful malady, and in consequence 
of this, as might be expected, much excite- 
ment prevailed over the island. In life, we 
are in the midst of death ; but so long as we 
enjoy health and its attendant blessings, we 
have but few fears. The sailor in calm 
weather, may vainly boast of his daring ex- 
ploits, and tell how he can brave the dangers 
of the deep ; but let the scene suddenly 
change, let clouds gather — the winds arise — 
the tempest increase, and the waves roll moun- 
tain high, tossing his frail bark about with un- 
manageable fury, threatening to engulph him 
in immediate destruction ; and you no longer 
hear him tell of his courage and skill, but his 



102 MEMOIR. 

cry is, " What shall I do to be saved?" And 
this feeling is not peculiar alone to the sailor, 
but it is witnessed in all the varied walks of 
life. Let danger approach, and let the last 
earthly refuge be taken from us, and what- 
ever may have been our former principles, 
we seek protection alone in God. 

About the eighteenth of March, (1832,) 
Sister Lincoln was the happy witness of 
another hopeful conversion to God. The 
subject of Divine favor in this instance, was, 
Mary C. Cottell, wife of Capt. Charles Cot- 
tell, at the North Shore. She relates the cir- 
cumstance as follows : — " When I first heard 
this child of God, in 1832, I was in a state of 
sin and unbelief ; but as she set forth the love 
of God to man — the beauties of His holy re- 
ligion — and His readiness to save unto the 
uttermost all who came unto him, I felt that 
I was a lost sinner, and destitute of a hope 
in Christ. But by Sister Lincoln, I was led 
to the Savior as my only hope, and through 
her instrumentality, and the blessing of God, 
I was converted. Often has her supplicating 
voice been raised for me, and not for me 
only, but for many others, who were led to 
embrace the Savior, through her preaching." 



THE PREACHER. 103 

Many more such witnesses might be gathered 
had we time, and means to devote to it, but 
were we to multiply them here, it would add 
but little interest to this work ; and it is my 
aim to avoid repetition as far as practicable, 
but in a work of this character it is impossi- 
ble entirely to do so. 

From a letter dated April 18, 1832, we 
learn that Sister Lincoln was at Edgarton, 
Martha's Vineyard, waiting for an opportu- 
nity to go to Nantucket. 

Nantucket is an island ten miles east of 
Martha's Vineyard, and twenty-four south of 
Cape Cod. It is a place of considerable 
business, and in 1840 contained 9,512 inhab- 
itants. In 1820 there were belonging to 
Nantucket seventy-tivo whale ships, whose 
burden together, exceeded twenty-one thous- 
and, six hundred tons. 

While waiting at Edgarton, she spent her 
time in holding meetings. She went to Nan- 
tucket in a packet ; they started from the 
wharf about midnight, and the next morning 
at sunrise arrived at the place of destination, 
and having never been there before, she was 
a stranger in a strange land ; but did not re- 
main such long, as the brethren learning that 



104 MEMOIR. 

she was on the island sought her out, and 
gave her a home among them while she staid. 

She remained at Nantucket several weeks, 
and preached at various places, and among 
thejrest, one evening at the African Chapel ; * 
in speaking of this meeting, she says, — " The 
house was well filled with a respectable and 
attentive congregation, about half of which, 
were whites. To me, it was a novel scene 
to look into the galleries, and behold it filled 
with black singers. There is a flourishing 
society on the island, made up of colored 
people. I have been to one of their Class 
Meetings, their leader is a man of color ; and 
it is interesting to witness the deep toned 
piety, and union of feelings, which seems to 
prevail among them." 

Amid all the sweets of life, Sister Lincoln 
tasted much of the bitter ; and it is truly 
surprising to see the pains some individuals 
will take, to render the condition of those 
around them unhappy. I do not speak in 
particular reference to Nantucket — I never 

* Says her husband,— "Salome was a friend to the col- 
ored man, having early manifested that friendship, by uniting 
herself with an Anti-Slavery Society, while they were in 
their infancy, and carrying out its principles through life." 



THE PREACHER. 105 

was there, but I do not imagine they are worse 
in that place, if as bad, as in many other. 

Our church — Our minister — and our prin- 
ciples, with many, seems to be of more im- 
portance than holiness of heart ! And what 
is still worse, this is emphatically so with 
many, who are professedly pious. How 
long such a state of things will exist, the 
Lord only knows ! 

I repeat it again, and I wish it distinctly 
understood, that I do not make these remarks 
particularly in reference to Nantucket. Let 
not the reader suppose that because Sister 
Lincoln met with slight opposition there, that 
the inhabitants are sinners above every other 
place ; for had she never met with greater 
trials, her life would have been compara- 
tively free from sorrow ! Then let us not go 
abroad to find this abominable zvickedness, but 
let us come right home — to our own commu- 
nity — to our own hearts, and if we are free 
from it ourselves, we are truly fortunate ! 
May the Lord grant it ! That Salome met 
with some opposition at Nantucket, is evident 
from the following extract of a letter written 
home. Perhaps it might as well be omitted, 
but as it is short, and expressive of her feel- 
10 



106 MEMOIR. 

ings, I will insert it. She says, — "There ap- 
pears to be considerable opposition manifested 

towards me here, by the church. But 

last evening curiosity or something else, 
prompted them to give up their own meeting, 
and the 'preacher with all his people attended 
with us. However, they manifested no dis- 
position to unite, as after preaching not one 
of them had any thing to say. God knows 
their motives — I will not judge them. It was 
a severe trial of my faith — but I expected 
trials when I started, I expected it would 
cost all to gain Heaven, and if I gain it at last, 
I shall be richly compensated for all I have 
suffered here I — I shall then come off con- 
queror, and more than conqueror through 
him that hath loved me, and given himself 
for me ! " 

Soon after leaving Nantucket she returned 
to East Falmouth, and from thence to Ware- 
ham where she staid one week, and held 
meetings. She speaks of the meetings as 
not being attended with any particular inter- 
est. From thence she went to Rochester, 
and stopped one night, and the next day in 
company with Eider Johnston, and Sister 
Burgess, went to Rehoboth to attend a four 



THE PREACHER. 107 

days meeting. At Rehoboth she met with 
many of her old friends and acquaintance, 
it was a pleasant meeting ! Such occasions 
are often rendered delightful, as they give us 
an opportunity to converse upon the scenes 
of former days ; and the mind is so con- 
stituted, that it loves to dwell upon the past 
as well as the future, especially on such parts 
as have rendered happiness ; — from Rehoboth 
she returned home, having now been gone 
several months. 

She remained at home till September, and 
took several short journeys — preaching Christ 
wherever she went, both in her own neigh- 
borhood, and in the adjoining towns. Sep- 
tember 12th, she received an invitation to 
visit several societies in Connecticut ; whether 
she complied with the request or not, the 
author is unable to say. The following is a 
copy : — 

Rochester, September 12, 1832. 

" Dear Sister : — The brethren in different 
societies in Connecticut, are anxious to have 
you come through this section this fall. — 
Should you come by week after next, you 
will have an opportunity to ride to the Ver- 
mont Conference. If providence opens the 



108 MEMOIR. 

way, please to inquire for Br. Baker, Neiv 
Hartford; Ethan Walker, Luther Discall, 
Goshen ; and Josiah Brunson, John May, and 
Thomas Morgan, Kent. 

Respectfully yours, fyc. 

Ethan Walker. 

For the remaining part of this year, and 
the most of 1S33, we shall be able to say 
but little in relation to the labors of our de- 
parted Sister ; but probably she spent the 
time in preaching on the Cape, at Martha's 
Vineyard, and in the neighborhood of her 
father's. 

In the spring of 1833 she was at Tisbury, 
where she had been through the winter 
months ; but soon after she left, and never 
returned, except in one or two instances to 
visit and attend a camp meeting, which I 
shall hereafter notice. Her labors on Mar- 
tha's Vineyard were appreciated, especially 
at the North Shore. She w r as respected in 
every section of the island, and beloved by a 
large circle of friends, 

Passing over the events of 1833, we now 
come to another important era in her life. — 
From the last of May 1834, to the middle of 
August, she preached in Boston, and the ad- 



THE PREACHER. 109 

joining towns, and from the recommendation 
written by Elder Norris ; we learn she was 
favored with large congregations ; * and the 
approbation of those who heard. She was 
here at two seasons, first in May, and then 
again in July ; she preached for the Re- 
formed Methodist in Bedford Street, and 
had made her arrangements to go to Low- 
ell, but as the President of the Conference 
advised her to defer it till some other time ; 
she put it off. She remained in Boston about 
two weeks, and preached twelve discourses 
besides attending other meetings. 

After leaving Boston, she made immediate 
preparation to return to the Cape, to spend 
the season ; her cousin Nancy M. Philips, 
(now White) was expecting to go with her, 
but providence seemed to order otherwise, 
as after they had got every thing in readiness, 
an individual from South Bridge water came 
after her to go there and preach ; accord- 
ingly she relinquished the design of going to 
the Cape, and returned with him. 

East, West, North and South Bridgewater, 
were formerly one town, situated on the 
north western boundary of Plymouth County. 
* See Page 42. 

10* 



110 MEMOIR. 

It was first divided into four parishes, and 
afterwards into four distinct towns. South 
Bridgewater retaining the original name, and 
the others taking the name East, West, and 
North Bridgewater. 

At Bridgewater she preached in a meeting- 
house belonging to the Universalist. An 
anecdote respecting her labors there, may 
not be uninteresting to the reader. 

One evening after she had concluded her 
sermon, she gave an invitation for others 
who might wish, to make improvement ; and 
accordingly a gentlemen who was then under 
the influence of drink, immediately arose and 
began to speak. The exhortation would have 
passed off very well, especially among those 
unacquainted with him, had not Salome as 
she was passing out of the house, gone near 
enough to smell his breath. It was now her 
turn to exhort, which she did in a faithful 
manner, and after becoming sober, he was 
heartily ashamed of his conduct. 

From Bridgewater she returned to Boston. 
This was sometime in the month of July, 
and she remained there till about the middle of 
August, when she left to visit the State of 
Maine. She was in Boston on this visit about 



THE PREACHER. Ill 

six weeks, and the manner she employed her 
time, may be seen from the following inter- 
esting letter written to her cousin, Nancy M. 
Philips. It was dated July 26, 1843, and 
reads as follows : — 

"Dear Cousin, ***** I am as pleasantly 
situated as I could be in the city ; and although 
there are twenty in the family, * yet I have a 
room, so that I can be by myself almost as 
much as though there were no other individ- 
ual in the house. O Mariah ! how I wish 
you could run in this morning and take a 
look at my chamber, but as this cannot be, 
I will tell you how I spend my time. We 
take breakfast at seven. And Br. Norris has 
kindly supplied me with books from his libra- 
ry, so that after breakfast I am able to spend 
an hour or two in study and meditation. After 
this, I work, read, receive company, or make 
calls, just as circumstances may direct. — 
Every evening I am engaged, either in class, 
prayer or preaching meetings, except Satur- 
day. Yesterday I was at Charlestown, and a 
week from to-day, I expect to go to Maiden, 

* While in Boston, Salome boarded in the family of 
Sister Crowell, who kept a boarding house near the Boyls- 
ton Market. 



112 MEMOIR. 

and spend the Sabbath. * * * * * You speak 
in your letter of doubts, respecting your ac- 
ceptance with God, arising from unfaithful- 
ness, but this does not prove to me that you 
have never received a pardon of sin. I well 
remember the time when I wholly backslid, 
and I have cause to lament my unfaithfulness 
even now ; yet I cannot doubt that I have 
known something of the power of religion. 
# * * * Determine to be a christian, and follow 
the Lord in all things, and then you will find 
the way comparatively easy." 

Yours affectionately, 

Salome Lincoln. 
One or two evenings before she embarked 
for the State of Maine, the city was thrown 
into commotion, on account of the burning of 
the Ursuline Convent at Charlestown. This 
institution was located about two miles west 
of the Bunker Hill monument. The ruins 
are still to be seen ; and it is said the Pope 
intends to let them remain, as a witness 
against the Protestants, and to ivhetthe sword 
of vengeance, when he shall have gained the 
ascendency over this country. And how 
soon this may take place, the Lord only 
knows ; but this we do know, Catholicism is 



THE PREACHER. 113 

rapidly spreading — the power of the Pope is 
daily increasing, and we have just reason to 
fear that shortly, if not checked, we shall have 
to boio our necks in humble subjection to his 
holiness, the Roman Pontiff. 

But says the reader, " How shall we check 
it ? " Not by trampling upon their rights, 
as freemen — plundering their property — rav- 
aging their dwellings — burning their institu- 
tions, — and insulting them at every corner of 
the streets at open noon-day ; but if it is done 
at all, it must be done by the poiver of moral 
suasion ; when that fails, our case is hopeless. 
And here I could wish, that I had the power 
to make an appeal that should be heard from 
the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the north- 
ern to the southern boundary, from the centre 
to the remotest corners of our nation. — 
Christian ! if you regard your own interest, 
if you would preserve the liberty of your 
country inviolate, and if you would save the 
church from the foul contamination of po- 
pery — awake before you find yourselves 
locked fast in shackles of inquisition ! 

But do you say there is no cause of alarm ? 

Let me remind you of the former history 
of the church ; and then look about you, 



114 MEMOIR. 

and as you witness their wealth, their daily 
increase of numbers, and the rapid emigra- 
tion from other countries, let it stimulate you 
to put forth every exertion to save yourself, 
and those around you from this monster, 
" The man of sin ! " Yet not by physical, but 
moral force I Never act on the principle of 
doing evil, that good may come. 

The circumstances connected with the 
burning of the convent at Charlestown, as 
related by Sister Lincoln, in a letter written 
to her father, are briefly these, — * * * * * 
<£ A young lady from the State of New York 
sent there by her friends to be educated, was 
prevailed upon by the authorities, to take the 
veil ; * but soon repenting of this step, she 
fled from the convent, and sought the protec- 
tion of a distant friend. But not long after 
she was visited by the bishop, who promised 
her, if she would return with him, she should 

* The veil is an article of dress worn by Nuns ; and 
after taking it, the individuals are supposed to have dedica- 
ted themselves to perpetual religious seclusion. When the 
candidate is about to be made a nun, she puts on a religious 
habit worn by them, and presents herself before the bishop, 
and sings " The bride of Christ I am !" She then receives 
the veil 8?c. and an anathema is denounced against all who 
shall attempt to make her break her vows. 



THE PREACHER. 115 

be honorably discharged in two or three 
weeks. She accordingly returned, and at 
the end of three weeks her friends called for 
her, but she was not to be seen. The select 
men of the town being applied to, went to the 
convent and demanded her. She was at last 
brought forward, when she stated that she was 
at liberty to go when she pleased, but she chose 
to remain. Her appearance was such as led 
to the belief that she had been confined in the 
cell, and severely tortured, and that she did 
not speak the truth. Last night (Aug. 11,) a 
mob of about 1000 men * from this city went 
over at midnight, in disguise, and with lighted 
torches searched every cell, and at the same 
time set fire to the building. The alarm was 
immediately given, and the engine compa- 
nies turned out, but when they found what 
it was, they refused to play, and together 
with the mob, stood and looked on till it was 
completely demolished." 

However bad might have been the charac- 
ter of this institution, it was very unwise, to 
take the course they did to destroy it; and 
its ruins has done more to build up catholi- 

* Probably several thousand. 



116 MEMOIR. 

cism in this country, than all their preaching 
for the last two centuries. 

Had the lightnings of heaven destroyed it, 
we might have rejoiced ; but the same prin- 
ciple that laid that in ruins, would demolish 
any other institution, when the sentiment ad- 
vocated clashed with the corrupt principle 
of their own hearts. And should I be called 
upon to prove my assertion, I will only refer 
the reader to the mob of 1842, which assem- 
bled around the Bowdoin Square church, 
while Elder Knapp was lecturing there, and 
undoubtedly might have leveled it to the 
ground, had not the city authorities promptly 
interfered. 

Salome in company with Sister Norris, the 
wife of Elder Norris, and some other friends 
embarked for Maine on the fourteenth of 
August. They went down in a packet bound 
for Augusta, * which left Boston about four 
o'clock in the afternoon, and after a voyage 
of two days, arrived within a few miles of 
the place of destination. They were in- 
tending to have landed at Augusta, but the 

* Augusta, the capital of Maine, is a flourishing town 
situated on the Kennebec river, North East of Portland, 
and nearly in the centre of the State. 



THE PREACHER. 117 

weather proving calm, they were obliged to 
anchor, and land in the boats at a town a few 
miles this side. At this place they took the 
stage and proceeded on to Reedfield.* She 
stopped at Reedfield several days, and while 
here preached on Kent's Hill,f to a large 
congregation. She was solicited to preach 
there again, but some objection being raised, 
she declined ; but gave out an appointment 
for a meeting in a village at Fayette ; | and 
when the time arrived, a large congregation 
assembled, and among them, many of the 
students, who had followed her down from 
the hill, so eager were they to hear. She 
afterwards preached several discourses in the 
same neighborhood, and once in a grove. 

She remained in this section, seven or 
eight weeks, and while gone, visited besides 
the towns already noticed, Hallovvell, Augus- 
ta, Wane, Livermore, Green, Minot, Leeds, 
&,c. &c. 

"In these places" (says Elder Norris) 

* A town a few miles beyond Augusta. 

t That part of Reedfield where the Methodist School is 
located. 

t The place where she preached in Fayette, is but a shurt 
distance from Kent's Hill. 

11 



118 MEMOIR. 

" she was generally well received, she drew 
out hundreds, and in some instances thousands 
to hear her preach ; and she occupied Meet- 
ing-houses, School-houses, Town-houses and 
groves, as the occasion and opportunity seemed 
to direct. In some of these places her ser- 
mons produced much effect, especially in 
Reedfield, Leeds, Fayette, Wane, and Liv- 
ermore." 

Having closed her visit there she made 
preparation to return again to Boston, al- 
though her friends were very anxious that she 
should remain longer ; and accordingly with 
those who accompanied her, she took a packet 
bound homeward, and after a prosperous 
voyage, landed safely in her own native state* 
While returning, it is stated she preached on 
board the boat, but nothing more definite can 
be said in relation to her discourse. After 
arriving at Boston she returned home, where 
she probably remained during the rest of the 
season. 

Leaving the remaining events of this year, 
I hasten to close the chapter ; I should be 
glad if it were in my power, to be still more 
definite during this period ; although I am 
sometimes led to think, while reading the 



THE PREACHER. 119 

memoir of others, that a constant repetition 
of events, though interesting in themselves 
render a work of this character dull to the 
reader, from the sameness in style, which 
must from the nature of the case, unavoid- 
ably occur. But notwithstanding this, I 
should be glad to particularize here, as I am 
fully satisfied in my own mind, that this was 
one of the most important periods of her life. 
But unfortunately as the papers which we 
have gathered, throw but little light, the rea- 
der must remain satisfied at present, * with 
what I have now in an imperfect manner 
endeavored to lay before him. 

With the close of this, I shall have finished 
the series of chapters which I have thought 
proper to head " The Female Preacher, " and 
shall enter upon another event which though 
not so important in its nature, is equally in- 
teresting; and here I would add, that though 
I shall not designate her by the title of those 
chapters, let not the reader gain the impres- 
sion, that I shall no longer notice her in that 

* Should the sale of this edition warrant us in publishing 
another, many more facts may be added, as we shall have 
an opportunity of visiting Maine, and many other places 
where she labored in 1833 and '34. 



120 MEMOIR. 

important relation ; as I have yet several very 
interesting circumstances to relate. 

And now respected reader ! having traced 
the life of Sister Lincoln thus far, and having 
learned her trials, the evidence of her high call- 
ing, the success which attended her labors, are 
you not satisfied, whatever may be right or 
wrong on this subject, that she engaged in 
this work with pure motives, and with a mind 
deeply convicted that God had made it her 
duty. If you are not, any thing further that 
I could add, will fail of its object, therefore I 
close the subject. 



121 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE WIFE. 

" Marriage is honorable." — Paid. 

" Joys serious and sublime, 
Such as doth nerve the energies of prayer, 

Should swell the bosom — when a maiden's hand, 
Filled with life's dewy flowers, girdeth on 

That harness, which the ministry of death 
Alone unlooseth, but whose fearful power 

May stamp the sentence of Eternity ! " 

While marriage is honorable, it is a solemn 
and interesting rite ; and those about enga- 
ging in it, should look well to all its relations. 

Much grace — much wisdom — and much 
prayer, is needed by those about entering into 
a covenant, so solemn that the poet tells us, it 
is stamped wfth the impress of Eternity. — 
And yet how few there are, especially among 
the young, who are willing to treat this sub- 
ject in its proper light. 

Franklin, and some other excellent writers, 
have recommended early marriage, as the 
most productive of happiness ; and while I 
11* 



122 THE WIFE. 

would recommend candid and prayerful re- 
flection, I would in no wise repudiate this 
sentiment, as doubtless one of the principal 
causes why so many unhappy unions are 
formed, is that they are formed no earlier in 
life. Early marriages are the most favorable 
for the promotion of happiness, from the fact, 
that in youth our feelings will more readily as- 
similate with the feelings of others. 

In selecting a companion, it should be our 
aim to select one, whose views — whose feel- 
ings — whose temperament—and whose inter- 
est, shall correspond with our own ! One with 
whom we can take sweet intercourse — One 
who shall be a companion in health and pros- 
perity — a solace and comforter in sickness — 
a partner of our misfortunes, and a sharer of 
our joys ! 

He that marries upon this principle, relying 
on the blessing of God, will not fail to add 
not only to his own, but the ^happiness of 
those around him. But let the individual 
who unites in marriage with another, on any 
other principle, remember, that he is prepar- 
ing for himself a cup to drink, which will em- 
bitter all the social relations of life. 



MEMOIR. 123 

Sister Lincoln first became acquainted with 
Elder Mo wry sometime in the fall of 1831. 
She was at that time preaching on Martha's 
Vineyard, and he was laboring with the Free 
Will Baptist church at Taunton. And while 
on one of his pastoral visits, he called at her 
father's in Raynham. Her cousin, Nancy 
M. Philips was about writing to her, and as 
she thought Elder Mowry might sympathize 
with Salome in her trials, requested him to 
improve a part of the sheet, which he accord- 
ingly did ; but without the most distant idea 
that the correspondence thus begun, would 
ever result in a union. The following is an 
extract from the letter then written : — 

Raynham, Nov. 8th, 1831. 

" Beloved Sister in Christ : — Permit one 
who never beheld your face, to address a few 
lines to you by way of comfort, while you 
are upon the same errand of mercy to the 
human family, as he who is penning these 
lines : — The errand of salvation ! O how 
delightful to carry it to the sons and daugh- 
ters of apostate Adam ! What a theme of re- 
joicing to our souls, that we were made the 
partakers of that principle, which teaches us 
the importance of denying self— taking up 



124 THE WIFE. 

the cross — and following in the paths that 
lead to heaven ! O may we at this time though 
strangers in the flesh, praise that God in the 
spirit, who is a spirit, " and seeketh such to 
worship him ; that it may be done in an ac- 
ceptable manner." * * * * *- Experience has 
taught me the trials you have to encounter in 
this vale of tears, but how happy should we 
be to think that Jesus has marked the way 
with his blood. * * * * * O Salome, be faithful 
in all things, and God will bless you ! study 
the scriptures — pray much — watch over your 
own spirit, pray for yourself — pray for Zion ; 
pray for me — pray for all ! " 

Yours, &c. 

Junia S. Mo WRY. 
Soon after receiving this, she took occasion 
to return the following reply : — 

Tisbury, Nov. 27th, 1831. 
Brother Mowry : — I acknowledge with plea- 
sure, the reception of a few lines from you 
in my cousin's letter, and I now propose to 
spend the few leisure moments I have, in 
writing to one whom I can address by the 
appellation of friend though a stranger in 
the flesh. 



MEMOIR. 125 

There is a tie that binds the lovers of Jesus 
together stronger than anything of an earthly 
nature, and while reading your letter, I felt 
that it was the language of one who knew 
how to sympathize with me. # * * # * — Yes, 
Br. Mowry, I can praise God with you, for 
the promise we have beyond the grave, of an 
inheritance that is better than any earthly 
possession, and that we have an earnest of 
this inheritence in the present life ; and thank 
the Lord that the way is the same now, that 
it was when the apostle counted all things 
as loss and dross for the excellency of the 
knowledge of Christ. I have never repented 
the sacrifice I have made for the cause of 
God, and poor souls. There is truly a satis- 
faction in proclaiming a full and free salva- 
tion to the perishing sons and daughters of 
Adam, and pointing sinners to the lamb of 
God. * * * * # I will now draw to a close, 
and if we never meet on earth, may we meet 
around our father's dazzling throne, there to 
unite in the praises of His great 7iame" # # * * 
Yours, &c. 

Salome Lincoln. 

Although these letters passed between them 
at this time, yet they were not favored with 



126 THE WIFE. 

a personal interview, till some months after- 
wards. 

She returned from the Vineyard in the 
spring of 1832, and while on her visit at 
home, she attended a meeting held at Whit- 
tington village ; * where Elder Mo wry had 
an appointment to preach. After sermon she 
made some remarks, and the meeting being 
concluded, they met and conversed familiarly 
for a few moments, and then separated ; and 
from this time till 1835, the year of their 
marriage, they held but little if any corres- 
pondence. 

After resigning the pastoral charge of the 
church at Taunton, Elder Mowry left and 
went to Tiverton, R. I., and became the Pas- 
tor of the Freewill Baptist church in that 
place, and preached to them one half of the 
time, and the other half they were destitute. 
This being the case, and Elder Mowry learn- 
ing that Sister Lincoln had no particular 
place of labor, proposed to some of the 
friends, that she be invited to make them a 
visit. The proposition being acceded to, 
Elder Mowry soon after went into the vicin- 

* A village about two miles north of the Court House in 
Taunton. 



MEMOIR. 127 

ity of Taunton, to attend a protracted meet- 
ing, where he found Salome. He informed 
her of what had transpired at Tiverton, in 
relation to herself, and she consented to re- 
turn with him. 

" On the way to Tiverton," says Elder 
Mowry, " our conversation turned on chris- 
tian experience in the ministry — minister's 
families, and the choice of ministers in select' 
ing their companions for life ; and at about 
the conclusion, I remarked, that I trusted 
when God thought it duty for me to be thus 
associated, he would provide some one, with 
a heart and qualifications suited to my work I 
She afterwards told me, that this remark 
was what first called her mind to the subject 
of marriage. " 

While at Tiverton this summer, she boarded 
in the family of Mr. Peleg Sanford. This 
was in the year of 1835. Half of the time 
on the Sabbath she preached in the old meet- 
ing-house, belonging to the Baptists, * and 
the other half wherever opportunity offered ; 
and during the week she held meetings in 

* This meeting-house stood where the new Freewill Bap- 
tist now stands, not far from Adam's Corner in Little Comp- 
ton. 



128 THE WIFE. 

that, and in the adjoining sections. At Tiv- 
erton she was highly esteemed as a christian, 
and her labors as in other places were pro- 
ductive of good. She was made the instru- 
ment in the hands of God of several hopeful 
conversions, and among the rest was the case 
of Br. James Manchester, whose mind at 
that time, if not bordering on skepticism, was 
in an impenitent state. One evening during 
the summer, she preached in a school-house 
in the town of Westport, * from the following 
text : 

"Quench not the spirit" — I. Thes. v. 19. 

Br. Manchester was present. The word in 
times past had failed in reaching his heart, 
and though his wife who was a professor, felt 
a deep anxiety for his salvation, and often ex- 
horted him to seek an interest in Christ, yet 
like many others, he manifested no concern 
about himself; and when the spirit of God 
strove with his conscience, like one of old he 
would say, " Go thy way for this time, when 
I have a more convenient season I will 
call for thee." The word now preached, 

* Westport is a town in the South East part of Mass. in 
the southern part of Bristol County, South East of Tiverton 
and West of Little Compton. 



MEMOIR. 129 

took a deep root in his heart, and he decided 
on the spot, that he would seek the Lord, 
while he might be found, and no longer 
quench his Holy Spirit, He went burdened 
with sin about two weeks, and then found 
peace in believing, and is now an active mem- 
ber in the church. 

Soon after she came to Tiverton, as is fre- 
quently the case in such places, it began to be 
whispered about, that a union was contempla- 
ted between herself and Elder Mo wry. But 
in this, as in many other cases where such re- 
ports are flying, there was but little ground 
to build upon, as they contemplated no such 
event till some months after. 

From the following letter written by her- 
self, it would seem she consented to become 
the wife of Elder Mowry sometime in the 
month of September 1S35 ; * and as it is ex- 
pressive of her feelings on that subject, I 
shall take the liberty to present the reader 
with a brief extract. 

Raynham, Sept. 28, 1835. 

u Dear Brother in Christ : In compliance 

* It might not have been till later in the fall. I drew the 
inference from the letter, but as it is of but little impor- 
tance ; after reading the letter the reader may draw his own 
inference. 

12 



130 THE WIFE. 

with your request, and in accordance with my 
own inclination, I have now retired to con- 
verse awhile with you, though absent ! A 
privilege which I highly esteem — that of re- 
tiring from the bustle of the world and con- 
versing with friends far away. It is some- 
times more pleasant, even to think of distant 
friends, than to converse with those that are 
with us ; but more pleasant still to communi- 
cate with those that occupy our thoughts — it 
is next to conversing face to face. Nothing of 
importance has occurred since I saw you. — 
I stopped in Taunton the next night, and the 
following day came home, where I found my 
friends all well. # * * # * You requested me 
to write my thoughts when I got home, and 
was alone. I am now alone ; but if as I then 
understood you, you meant upon the subject 
about which we were conversing, I must con- 
fess I know not where to begin. But with 
regard to some questions which you asked, 
and which I did not then answer, I have since 
thought you might impute my silence to in- 
difference. But if it would be any satisfac- 
tion for you to know, I will acknowledge, that 
were I to consult the feelings of my heart, 
and then be honest, I suppose I should answer 



MEMOIR. 131 

the question in the affirmative; but fearing 
that my affections were too easily gained, and 
that you were prompted by pity for my lonely 
condition more than any other sentiment, I 
had determined to be guarded in my expres- 
sions and keep them locked up in the secret 
chambers of my own heart — at least for the 
present ; and perhaps it would have been as 
well if I had not expressed what I have here 
written. * ### # I feel that I can submit all 
to the ivill and direction of the Lord ! O that 
we may be guided by him in all the affairs 
of life — that whether we spend our days to- 
gether or apart, we may spend them to the 
glory of God, and be useful to our fellow 
creatures ! Pray for me, and pardon this im- 
perfect scrawl ! " * * # * *. 

Yours in the Lord, 

Salome Lincoln. 
A few months before her marriage, she 
again visited Martha's Vineyard to attend a 
camp-meeting. They had a pleasant voyage, 
and arrived on the island a little after sunset, 
and just as the services for the evening were 
commencing. In the language of the poet it 

was a 

u Sweet day, so pure, so calm, so bright, 
The bridal of earth and sky ! " 



132 THE WIFE. 

" The place where the meetings were held," 
in her own language, " was a delightful spot, 
shaded with large oaks and inclosed with a 
circle of tents, upwards of twenty in number. 
The scenery was beautiful ; and everything 
around seemed to breathe the spirit of devo- 
tion ! I felt to say with the poet," 

" O would He more of heaven bestow, 

And let the vessel break ; 
And let my ransomed spirit go. 

To grasp the God I seek ! " 

Having now been absent from Martha's 
Vineyard for nearly two years, she met with 
a hearty welcome from many of her former 
associates and friends ; and although she did 
not preach, yet she was very far from being 
idle, as she was actively engaged in the tents 
in holding circles of prayer. While engaged 
in these duties, a lady by the name of Lewis — 
now the wife of Edward Luce, was struck 
under powerful convictions. Shs went into 
the tent where they were praying, but she 
was in so grea* distress of mind, that she en- 
tirely broke up the meeting. She was after- 
wards converted, and attributes her awaken- 
ing to the labors of Sister Lincoln. In speaking 
further of her visit, she says, — " The meetings 



MEMOIR. 133 

were interesting, and some of them peculiarly 
so. We had preaching four times a day, 
with prayer-meetings at every interval ; and 
about seventy professed to have submitted to 
Christ. The parting scene was heart-rending ; 
but we parted in hopes of a meeting, where 
we shall no more take the parting hand ! 
About nine o'clock Saturday morning, we left 
the island, but the wind was against us, and 
after beating about all day, came to anchor in 
Tarpaulin Cove, and some of the brethren 
went on shore, and after obtaining a place for a 
meeting sent word to the other vessels laying 
there, so that in a short time we had a large 
congregation ; and before the meeting closed 
six were on their knees begging for mercy. 
One of them was the mate of a brig from 
New York. At sunrise the next morning, we 
again started for home, and landed at four 
o'clock in the afternoon of the same day. — 
I was exceedingly sick all day, and so were 
many other passengers, but I had the peace 
of God reigning in my soul." 

Marriage to Elder Mowry : — Sometime 
in November, Salome left Tiverton and re- 
turned home, to make preparation to consum- 
mate her union with Elder Junia S. Mowry. 
12* 



134 THE WIFE . 

They were married at her father's residence 
in Raynham, December 2, 1835, by Elder 
Enoch Sanford, pastor of the Congregational 
church in that town. In the evening they 
held a meeting at the same place, and Elder 
Sanford preached. The next day they rode 
as far as Rehohoth, where Elder Mo wry was 
called to attend a funeral, and from thence 
proceeded on to his father's in Smithfield, 
Rhode Islanpl. 

The Sabbath after marriage, they attended 
meeting at Greenville, * and Elder Allen f 
being unwell, requested Elder Mowry to 
preach for him, which he accordingly did in 
the forenoon, and after sermon Elder Allen 
gave notice that Mrs. Mowry would preach 
in the evening. Their marriage was not gen- 
erally known at Smithfield, and hence when 
this notice was given out, it produced consid- 
erable excitement. She preached in the 
evening to a congregation much larger than 
was usual in that place. 

* Greenville is a village in the southern part of Smith- 
field, about three miles and a half North of Smith ville Semi- 
nary in North Scituate, R. I., and eight miles west of Prov- 
idence. 

t Then Pastor of the First Free Will Baptist church in 
Smithfield. 



MEMOIR. 135 

She afterwards preached several times in 
that vicinity, once or twice in the meeting- 
house at North Scituate, and for the first 
church in Smithfield, located at Georgiaville. 
After concluding their visit, they returned to 
Tiverton, and commenced the married life, 
by boarding in the family of Mr. Peleg San- 
ford. 

Character of the Wife : — I have already 
in a former chapter noticed her general and 
religious character, but to sustain a good char- 
acter as a husband or wife, implies something 
more than is generally embraced in either of 
these ; though I may fail properly to define 
the difference. To sustain a good character 
as a wife, implies not only moral purity, but 
that the individual is qualified to discharge 
the domestic duties upon which she is called 
to enter — all the little relations connected 
with household affairs. We have too many 
trifles, which we class among the non essentials. 
The little foxes spoil the vines — little drops 
make up the ocean, and a few little faults 
make a very essential difference in our char- 
acters ! But while I make these remarks, I 
would not be understood to say, that an indi- 
vidual can be entirely free from fault — but so 



136 THE WIFE. 

long as we justify them, either in ourselves or 
others, we are verily guilty. 

One of the traits of character which we 
shall mark in the good wife, is, order and 
neatness about her house. Though an individ- 
ual may possess every other trait of charac- 
ter that is amiable and lovely, and fails in this 
one point, she fails properly to discharge her 
high office. 

' According to the testimony of others, and 
especially her husband, Mrs. Mowry pos- 
sessed this trait of character in a high degree, 
says he — " Order was a prominent feature of 
her mind. Every thing had a place, and every 
thing was in its place" Another trait which 
I shall notice in the good wife, is 

Industry. — Sister Mowry as we have al- 
ready noticed was industrious, through every 
period of her life, from the cradle to the 
grave ; and the first year after marriage, be- 
sides attending to her other duties, she earned 
between thirty and forty dollars, which she 
expended for furniture. But while she was 
frugal and industrious, and provided for her 
own wants, her heart was also open, and she 
felt deeply for the wants of others. On one 
occasion after reading a letter which her hus- 



MEMOIR. 137 

band had received from an indigent brother 
in the ministry, she was so deeply affected, 
that she mentioned his case in the congrega- 
tion, and called for aid, and by prompt and 
persevering exertion, was enabled to render 
him assistance. I might go on and multiply 
the qualifications of a good wife, but as it is 
a deviation from the design of this work, I 
proceed to notice lastly, that 

Affection for her husband, and family, is 
another very essential qualification in the 
character of the good wife. 

Such was the temperament of Mrs. Mowry, 
that she made no pompous display of love, and 
hence to others she often appeared indiffer- 
ent, when at the same time her feelings glowed 
with warmth. To her husband she was an 
excellent companion and assistant, and that 
she loved him with all the ardor of a wife, 
we cannot for a moment doubt, if we may 
be permitted to take his testimony, as re- 
ceived from his lips, and from his letters, of 
which the following is an extract. 

" My Bear Salome : — Yours of the 25th and 
29th were received yesterday, with all the 
heartfelt satisfaction, I trust a husband delights 
in, from one who is bound to him by ties 



138 THE WIFE. 

more than mortal — even the silken chords of 
affection, and the spirit of Christ. * * * # * 
I can never repay you for that affection which 
you maifest towards me, in the tokens of love 
and friendship, with which your letters and 
acts abound. You say in your letter ; ( I am 
comforted in your comfort — sorrow in your 
sorrow,' &c. &c. I could respond to that 
sentence : — ' True friends are one in soul y 
what one has the other enjoys.' " 

I have not noticed these traits in the char- 
acter of Sister Mowry, because I suppose her 
to be free from fault. Although she pos- 
sessed the qualifications of a good wife in as 
high a degree perhaps, as the majority of 
women ; yet " to err is human." And as she 
was clothed with human nature, it would not 
be surprising, if she sometimes deviated from 
the standard of the perfect wife. 

Enters upon the duties of the wife. — 
Sister Mowry entered upon the discharge of 
her domestic duties, in the spring after her 
marriage (1836) in a house belonging to Dea. 
Borden ; soon after which, she was called to 
pass through new and unexpected trials, 
arising out of some difficulty between the 
Freewill and Christian Baptist societies in 



MEMOIR. 139 

Tiverton. The circumstances are these. The 
land on which the parsonage was built, was 
given to the Baptist society in Tiverton by a 
Mr. Job Almy for the use of said society. — 
Elder Mowry at this time was the regular 
pastor of the church to whom the property 
belonged ; but Elder Peckham their former 
pastor continued to occupy the house till his 
death, when it was advertised to let by the 
Christian Baptists, who had separated them- 
selves from the regular church. As soon as 
this advertisement appeared, it excited them 
to action, and Elder Mowry was prevailed 
upon to take immediate possession of the 
property which rightfully belonged to them 
as a society, and accordingly his goods were 
forthwith moved on to the premises ; and for 
this, acting as he did — agent for the society, 
he was sued for "forcible entry" 

While all this was transpiring at home, 
Mrs. Mowry was at Raynham, on a visit to 
to her friends, and when she returned, instead 
of finding her furniture where she had left it, 
she found it set up in one small room in the 
Parish-house — Widow Peckham occupying 
the remaining part. 



140 THE WIFE. 

The court which set on this case, was held 
at the Stone Bridge, * and after occupying 
one day in going through the evidence, the 
case was decided in favor of the Freewill 
Baptists. 

While the court was in session, on being 
told by one of the by-standers, that perhaps 
her husband would have to go to jail, she re- 
plied, I am going to stay and see how they 
decide the case, for if he goes to jail I am 
going too. This anecdote serves to corroborate 
what we have already stated in relation to 
her affection for her husband. 

Though the combined circumstances at- 
tending this case were naturally irritating, yet 
through the whole she manifested an excel- 
lent spirit, and seemed to be willing to make 
any sacrifice the cause of God required, and 
had not circumstances forced her husband to 
be so much from home, leaving increased re- 
sponsibility devolving upon her ; and had she 
not been forced to conduct her household 
affairs in so small a compass, she would have 
been comparatively happy through the whole 
of it. 

* A village about five miles from the meeting-house, so 
called from a bridge which runs across from Tiverton to the 
island of Rhode Island. 



MEMOIR. 141 

Birth and death of her child. — Her 
first child, Mary Elizabeth, was born Nov. 
2, 1837, but she was not blessed with its 
society long, as God in his providence saw 
fit soon after to take it to himself. God's 
ways are mysterious. He gives and he takes 
away ; and when perhaps we cannot tell 
why, — a valid reason is prominent in the 
mind of the deity. I have sometimes thought, 
that the tender bud is thus early plucked, to 
guard the fond parent against letting his or 
her affections entwine too closely around 
earthly objects, to the neglect of higher duties. 
But to christian parents, when their children 
are thus taken from them by death, there is 
a consolation found in the words of Christ : 
Ci Of such is the kingdom of heaven." 

This child was never well from birth, and 
was several times brought so low, that it was 
thought to be dying. The disease which 
finally terminated its existence, was the dropsy, 
and after a protracted illness of several months 
it fell asleep Feb. 5, 1839, leaving its fond 
parents to mourn its loss. 

At the request of Sister Mowry, Elder 
James Mc Kenzie, Pastor of the Freewill 



13 



142 THE WIFE. 

Baptist Church at Newport, R. I., * attended 
the funeral, and preached a discourse from a 
text selected by herself. 

" Is it icell with thee ? Is it well with thy 
husband ? Is it well with the child ? — And she 
answered ; It is well" — II. Kings iv. 26. 

She felt the death of her child severely, 
yet she manifested christian resignation. — 
Says Elder Mc Renzie — " When I entered 
the room, there was no boisterous emotions 
of grief, but her looks and language, was ex- 
pressive of an entire submission to the will of 
God." 

In a letter afterwards written to her devo- 
ted friend Elizabeth Liscom, she says: — 
" The sweet little pratler has gone to the 
world of spirits, and I shall soon follow !" 
But how soon she little realized ! We are 
often, deeply impressed with the uncertainty 
of life, but none know how brief a space of 
time, may intervene between them and the 
eternal world. I once visited the sick-room 
of a friend, when she requested me to sing 
the following lines : — and when I see individ- 
uals living from day to day, as though there 

* Elder Mc Kenzie is now pastor of the Roger Williams, 
a Freewill Baptist church in Providence, R. I. 



MEMOIR 



143 



were no death — no judgment — no Eternity 
I often think of them. 

" My days, my weeks, my months, my years, 
Fly rapid as the whirling spheres, 

Around the steady pole ; 
Time, like the tide, its motion keeps, 
And I must launch thro' boundless deeps, 

Where endless ages roll. 

Long ere the sun has run its round, 
I may be buried under ground, 

And there in silence rot. 
Alas ! one hour may close the scene, 
And ere twelve months shall intervene, 

My name be quite forgot! 

But shall my soul be then extinct, 
And cease to be, or cease to think ? 

It cannot — cannot be ! 
Thou! my immortal, cannot die, 
What wilt thou do or whither fly 

When death shall set you free? " 

After her marriage, Sister Mowry preached 
only occasionally, during the absence of her 
husband, or as she went out from home to 
visit with him in different places among their 
friends. 

In the year 1839 she took up her connec- 
tion with the Reformed Methodist church, of 
which she had been a member for a series of 
years, and united with the Freewill Baptist, 



144 THE WIFE. 

at Tiverton. We have now seen her in nearly 
every relation in life ! We have only to wit- 
ness her through one more trial, the valley and 
shadoiv of death, when perhaps we shall be 
competent to judge of her character, and the 
motives which governed her actions. This 
solemn event will be the subject of our next 
chapter. 



145 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE LAST SICKNESS. 

t{ Consult life's silent clock, thy bounding vein, 
Seems it to say— health here has long to reign 1 

Hast thou the vigor of thy youth, an eye 
That beams delight, a heart untaught to sigh ? 

Yet fear, youth oftentimes healthful and at ease, 
Anticipates a day it never sees ! "^Cowper. 

It oftentimes becomes the duty of the nar- 
rator to record events which his feelings 
would fain prompt him to pass over in silence. 
We love to dwell upon prosperity — we love 
to paint the beauties of nature — and trace the 
hidden springs of happiness ; but to follow 
death in all his secret windings, is equally pain- 
ful, both to the writer and reader ; especially 
when we are called to record the last earthly 
scenes of a beloved friend ! 

But says the sacred penman — "It is ap- 
pointed unto men once to die " — and there is 
a consolation in knowing, that those of whose 
virtues we speak, have died in the triumph 
13* 



146 LAST SICKNESS. 

of faith and are now sweetly sleeping in the 
arms of Jesus. 

It was early evident to the friends of Mrs. 
Mowry, that the seeds of death were sown 
in her constitution, and were fast ripening for 
a premature grave ; and yet for a long time 
they continued to cherish hopes, that by 
proper care, she might live many years to ex- 
tend her usefulness in the church, and in the 
society around her. But alas, how vain are 
all our expectations ! Consumption had fixed 
its firm, though steady grasp upon her, and 
was silently, though almost impreceptibly 
bringing her daily nearer and nearer to the 
grave. 

Consumption is one of the most obsti- 
nate diseases with which the skilful physi- 
cian has to contend. One day the patient 
seems to be in the enjoyment of health, while 
on the next he is worn down with disease. 
It is like the waves of the ocean — up and 
down, only each successive wave sinking 
deeper and deeper, till finally it places its 
subject forever beyond the reach of hope. — 
But after all, it is nature's death! So calm — 
so sweet, that the poet was led to desire that 
he might die of the consumption, in order 



MEMOIR. ] 47 

that his friends while they stood around his 
coffin, viewing his remains, might be led to 
exclaim, " O how lovely ! " 

The disease which terminated the existence 
of Sister Mo wry was a quick consumption, 
which had its origin in a cancerous humor, to 
which she was subject from childhood. 

There are several kinds of consumption, 
and they are as different in their results, as 
they are in their nature ; for while one leads 
its subject gently along as described above, 
other kinds are attended with great mental 
and bodily distress. Such was the nature 
of the disorder w 7 ith which she was afflicted. 

After the birth of her second child, March 
20, 1841, Mrs. Mowry never regained her 
health, although some part of the time she 
was able to keep about the house. They 
were then living at Warwick, R. I. ; * Elder 
Mowry having ended his labors with the 
church at Tiverton, Nov. 1840, and taken the 
pastoral charge of the Central Freewill Bap- 
tist church in the village of Aponaug. Miss 
Nancy Manchester, the present wife of Elder 
Mowry, was with her, and took charge of her 

* Warwick is in Kent's County, about ten miles South 
of Providence. 



148 LAST SICKNESS. 

domestic. affairs through the remaining part 
of her life. 

Preached her last Sermon. — It is often 
the case that individuals think much of the 
last acts, or the last words of a departed 
friend; and especially if they were called to 
take a prominent part in public. The last 
notice we have of Mrs Mowry's preaching, 
is contained in a letter written to a friend, 
and dated April 5, IS 10. In this letter she 
says : — "To-day, as we were disappointed of 
a minister, I have tried to preach. I have 
not attempted it before, for several months, 
but I had a good time in speaking from these 
words : — 

" If any man be in Christ, he is a new 
creature — I. Cor. v. 17. 

After I had done two young men recently 
converted, brought in their testimony, which 
was to the point/' After this sermon, she 
probably never took a text in the public con- 
gregation, although she may have been en- 
gaged in conferences, where, as Eld. "Whitte- 
more tells us her talents shown with peculiar 
lustre. 

Subsequent to the twentieth of May, 1841, 
she never left her room, only as she was 



MEMOIR. 149 

carried in the arms of her husband : and for 
about nine weeks previous to her death, she 
had constant watchers, and every means that 
could be suggested to the minds of her friends, 
was resorted to, in order to secure her recov- 
ery : but all in vain, as from that time she 
rapidly declined. In a letter dated July 6th, 
her husband says : — 

" Salome has suffered very much. She 
often speaks of it. She has been singularly 
affected — long- continued — and still it looks 
dark. Saturday I went to Providence and 
called upon Dr. Richardson, (Botanic,^) — he 
comes again to-day — she is so low he scarcely 
knows what to say of her, or the complaint. 
He gave her medicine, but she takes only a 
little at a time, and it distresses her exceed- 
ingly. In some respects she appears better, 
in others not, — on the whole is more comfort- 
able than when Brother Whittemore was up. 
I have still some little hopes of her recovery, 
but time alone can determine." 

The last two weeks before her death, she 
conversed but little, owing to the peculiar state 

* She had a Botanic Physician at her own request. She 
seemed to have confidence that they could restore her to 
health. 



150 LAST SICKNESS. 

of her mind produced by her disorder. Her 
mind, though in health strong, in sickness 
seemed to be broken ; but as death drew 
nearer, she was calm and resigned, and ap- 
peared more rational, and seemed more like 
herself. 

Last hours and Death. — A few days be- 
fore her death, Elder Joseph Wbittemore, 
from Tiverton, called to see her. He says — 
"She appeared to know me, and would con- 
verse rational about the people of Tiverton. 
She expressed a strong desire for the prosper- 
ity of the church there ; and when asked in 
relation to her own feelings, she said she was 
sensible, she should never get well, and felt 
resigned to the will of God. She also re- 
marked, that in prospect of death, she felt 
more calm then she ever expected ; although 
if it was the will of God, she should like to 
regain her health ; but not so much on her 
own account, as on the account of her hus- 
band and child." 

On another occasion she remarked to her 
husband, that she did not have that lively, an- 
imated state of feelings which she desired, 
and had not for some months past, — but felt 
firm, and could rely on Christ as her Savior. 



M EMOIR, 151 

At another time she said — > u Christ is my 
only hope of salvation, on which I lean my all /" 

When asked about her burial, she replied — 
"I have thought much of it, and should pre- 
fer to be laid with my child at Tiverton." 

During the last few hours of her life, she 
seemed to lie almost entirely senseless, and 
in so great a bodily distress, that her groans 
were heard in the street ; and at the same 
time, she was in a state of mental aberration. 
Her bodily suffering during this period was 
doubtless beyond conception, and it would not 
be surprising if under these circumstances, 
she often appeared indifferent, as to her situ- 
ation. She remained in this state until about 
four 6 ' clock Wednesday afternoon, July 21, 
1841, when she departed this life to be with 
Jesus. 

She is now free from pain and sorrow — her 
trials are at an end, and she is reaping a rich 
reward for all her toils, in the Kingdom of 
Heaven ! " Blessed are the dead that die in 
the Lord ! " 

Her earthly pilgrimage is now closed ! — 
that voice which once sounded the news 
of salvation so earnestly, will be heard no 
more ! Her tongue is silenced in death ! — Her 



152 HER LAST HOURS AND DEATH. 

eyes which beamed with intelligence are 
closed — and her mortal has put on immortal- 
ity ! And while her body sleeps in the cold 
arms of death — her spirit freed from its 
earthly tenement, has gone to inhabit the re- 
gions of bliss — or in the language of the poet : 

" She has gone to the grave — but we will not deplore her, 
Though sorrow and darkness encompass the tomb : 

The Savior has passed through its portals before her, 
And the lamp of his love, is her guide through the gloom. 

She has gone to the grave, but 'twere wrong to deplore her, 
When God was her ransom, her guardian and guide ; 

He gave her — and took her — and soon will restore her, 
Where death hath no sting, since the Savior hath died." 

At the time of her death, Mrs. Mowry was 
a member of the Freewill Baptist church at 
Warwick. This is the second time within a 
few years, that that church, in the providence 
of God has been called to follow the remains 
of their pastor's companion to the grave.* — 
God is speaking by these events to the church 
at Warwick, reminding them of the impor- 
tance of working while the day lasts, remem- 
bering that the night of death will soon come, 
when there will be no more opportunity. 

By the death of Sister Mowry, God also 

* Elder Benjamin Phelon, while he had the charge of that 
church buried a wife and child. 



MEMOIR. 153 

speaks to the surviving friends, and especially 
to those, who have so often heard her voice 
in prayer and exhortation, and have not 
profited by her admonitions, but who are yet 
without Christ ; To you my dear friends ! God 
is speaking by this providence in thunder tones, 
saying, " be ye also ready ! " — To her rela- 
tives and numerous circle of pious friends 
she soon ivill speak with the voice of an an- 
gel, in tones of consolatio?i ; " Friends, Jesus 
calls come home I " 

Among a large circle of 'relatives and friends, 
Mrs. Mowry left one child ; * then four months 
old — a bright black eyed little girl ! Though 
possessing naturally a delicate constitution, 
yet by the tender care of her parent and 
guardian, she may live many years, to follow 
in the footsteps of her mother, — an ornament 
in society — a pillar in the church, and useful 
to all around her ! 

FUNERAL OF MRS. MOWRY:— The 

circumstances connected with the funeral of 

Mrs. Mowry, were solemnly sublime / And as 

probably but very few of my readers, have 

ever been called to witness anything like it, 

* Amy Mowry, the second daughter of Salome, was born 
March 20, 1841. 

14 



154 FUNERAL. 

they will pardon me, if I should wander from 
that deep solemnity which should ever grace 
these solemn occasions. There is that con- 
nected with the services performed at the 
funeral of our friends, which always has a 
tendency to touch the feelings, and draw out 
the sympathy of our natures ! The assem- 
bling of the relatives and friends together — 
The touching appeals of the devout minister 
of Christ — The appendages of the dead — the 
pall, the bier, the shroud, the coffin — and then 
the solemn tones of the plaintive bell, as the pro- 
cession moves sloiuly onward to the grave ; — 
all, all conspire to melt our hearts, and make 
us weep ! But to witness a burial at midnight ! 
to lay our friends down, as in the language 
of the poet, 

" By the struggling moonbeams' misty light, " 
far surpasses this, and everything else, within 
the limits of discription ! 

The funeral services of the deceased were 
commenced at the residence of Elder Mowry 
in Warwick, Friday morning, July 23. At 
eight o'clock, Eld. Fifeild, a Methodist min- 
ister stationed on the circuit, made a prayer 
at the house, after which they moved in pro- 



n emoir. 155 

cession to East Greenwich.* They arrived 
there about ten o'clock A. M. when the re- 
mains were taken from the hearse, and placed 
on board a sloop, waiting for the purpose of 
conveying them to Tiverton. Says Elder 
Mowry : — 

" The hours of this day rolled heavily." 
They were expecting to have arrived at 
Tiverton by four o'clock in the afternoon, 
but the day proving exceedingly calm, they 
made but little progress ; and it was past 
sunset before they arrived at the Stone Bridge, 
seven miles from the place of interment. — 
Tiverton and Little Compton are separated 
from the island of Rhode Island f by the 
Eastern Passage of the Narraganset Bay, 
and the only connecting link is the Stone 
Bridge, just referred to. The tide which 
comes in from the ocean, through this pas- 
sage to Mount Hope Bay, passes and re-pas- 

* East Greenwich lies South of Warwick, and the place 
where they took the sloop is about three miles from Apo- 
naug. 

+ The island of Rhode Island, from which the State de- 
rives its name, is situated in the Narraganset Bay. It is 
one of the most delightful spots I have ever visited, and from 
its fancied resemblance to the garden of Eden, it has some- 
times been called the Eden of America. 



] 56 FUNERAL. 

ses with considerable rapidity, so that a ves- 
sel wishing to go through the drawer, must 
pass in the direction of the tide. 

They were expecting to have landed four 
miles below the bridge, and within about the 
same distance of the place of burial, where 
some of the friends with carriages were to 
meet them. But when they arrived at the 
bridge the tide had just turned against them, 
and they were forced, either to land or wait 
six hours longer ; and it being in mid-summer, 
they concluded to land. 

The scene which is now to follow, surpas- 
ses description — the pen of the poet would 
fail to paint it ! — Having obtained a sufficient 
number of carriages, the procession again 
moved forward — and between twelve and one 
o'clock, Saturday morning, July 24th, they 
arrived at the place of burial ; and between 
one and two — at "dead of night " — while 
a solemn stillness reigned around, — they laid 

HER DOWN, IN THE SILENT GRAVE " In 

Death'' s cold arms to sleep ! " 

" No more with us, her tuneful voice, 
The hymns of praise shall swell ; 

No more her cheerful heart rejoice, 
To hear the Sabbath bell! " 



MEMOIR. 157 

Early in the forenoon of the same day, 
they again assembled at the house of Elder 
Whittemore, and after reading a portion of 
Scripture, he offered up a solemn and devout 
prayer to God ! 

The room where they were assembled, was 
the same in which she had lived-— It was 
painted by her own hands — and the same 
furniture stood in it, which had been used by 
herself; and as simple as they appear in 
themselves, these circumstances had a ten- 
dency to render the scene doubly solemn and 
interesting ! 

After the services were ended, they retired 
to the sloop — and returned to Warwick. 

The next day being the Sabbath, two fu- 
neral discourses were preached to the church 
at Aponaug ; one in the forenoon by Elder 
Martin Cheney, a Freewill Baptist minister 
from Olneyville, * and the other by Elder 
Waterman a Congregationalist.t Elder Che- 

* Olneyville, is a village, partly in Johnston and partly 
in North Providence, R I. Elder Cheney's meeting-house 
is in Johnston, about two miles from the Court-house, Prov- 
idence. 

t.I should be exceedingly glad to present the reader with 
an outline of Elder Waterman's discourse, but not having 
the means, it is out of my power. 



158 FUNERAL SERVICES. 

ney's text was from the words of the Apostle 
contained in the first of Thessalonians : — 

44 But 1 would not have you to be ignorant 
brethren, concerning them which are asleep, 
that ye sorrow not, even as others ivhich have 
no hope." — I. Thess. iv. 13. 

A few Sabbaths after Elder Whittemore 
preached a funeral discourse to the church at 
Tiverton, laying before them the life and 
character of the deceased ; the words of his 
text were as follows : — 

" That ye be not slothful, but followers of 
them, who through faith and patience inherit 
the promise." — Hebrews vi. 12. 

In his exordium he remarked, — " It is 
the duty of the living, to remember those 
who have died in Christ, and to copy their 
example as far as it was good — and in discus- 
sing this subject, I shall show : — 

I. The advantage of remembering such 

AS THROUGH FAITH AND PATIENCE INHERIT THE 
PROMISE. 

II. Mention a few things in the char- 
acter OF THE DECEASED WORTHY OF REMEM- 
BRANCE. 

Besides these sermons, Elder Whittemore 
also wrote an obituary notice, which was 



MEMOIR. 159 

published in the Morning Star.* He was per- 
sonally acquainted with her, having lived in 
their family several months ; and having many 
other superior advantages over the author, 
I can only regret that his other duties pre- 
cluded him from the privilege of transmitting 
to the world, the memoir of her, who so 
richly deserves a place, not only in our affec- 
tions but also in our memory. 

She has left us, and gone to the silent 
abode of the dead, where, 

" The storm that wrecks the winter skies, 
No more disturbs her deep repose, 
Than summer evening's latest sigh, 
That shuts the rose ! 

But while we mourn her loss, we mourn 
not as those destitute of a hope in Christ, 
who is the resurrection ; for when life's flick- 
ering lamp ceased to burn, her spirit guided by 
angels, soared away to the mansions of Eter- 
nal rest — there to unite with those kindred 
spirits who had gone before her ! — And at 
the resurrection of the saints she will stand 
in her lot and place ! 

The following beautiful " Requiem," taken 

from the Philadelphia Gazette, and supposed 

* The Morning Star is a religious paper published by the 
Freewill Baptists at Dover, New Hampshire. 



160 PLACE OF INTERMENT. 

to be the production of the editor, composed 
on the death of his accomplished lady, was 
handed to me by Elder Mo wry for insertion. 

" I see thee still ! 
Remembrance faithful to her trustj 
Calls thee in beauty from the dust ; 
Thou comest in the morning light — 
Thou'rt with me through the gloomy night ; 
In dreams I meet thee, as of old, 
Then thy soft arms, my neck enfold, 
And thy sweet voice is in my ear ; 
In every scene to memory dear, 

I see thee still ! 

I see thee still ! 
Here was thy summer noon's retreat. 
This was thy favorite fireside seat ; 
This was thy chamber, where each day 
I sat and watched thy sad decay ; 
Here on this bed thou last did lie, 
Here on this pillow, thou didst die ! 
Dark hour ! once more its woes unfold — 
As then I saw thee pale and cold, 

I see thee still ! 

I see thee still ! 
Thou art not in the tomb confined, 
Death cannot claim the immortal mind ! 
Let earth close o'er its sacred trust, 
Yet goodness dies not in the dust. 
Thee oh beloved ! 'tis not thee, 
Beneath the coffin's lid I see, 
Thou to a fairer land art gone — 
There let me hope — my journey done 

To see thee still!'' 



MEMOIR. 161 

Mrs. Mo wry was buried near her child, in 
the yard a few rods north of the Stone meet- 
ing-house belonging to the Freewill Baptisls 
in Tiverton. The grave is situated in the 
southern part of the yard, near the gate. It 
is marked by two white marble slabs, on 
which is inscribed the following appropriate 
words : — 

OF 

SALOME MOWRY, 

THE WIFE OF 

ELDER JUNIA S. MOWRY, 
Who died July 81, 1841, in the 34th year of her age. 

She spent more than five years as a public laborer 
in various places ; mostly in the south- 
eastern part of Massachusetts. 



And now Dear Reader ! — after having thus 
endeavored to lay before you in a faithful 
manner, the life and character of Mrs. Mowry, 
permit me to take a kind and affectionate 
leave of you, by requesting that you will 



162 PLACE OF INTERMENT. 

strive to profit by her example — to imitate 
her virtues — and live here in such a manner, 
that when death shall draw nigh, like the apos- 
tle Paul you may have it to say,-"I have fought 
a good fight, I have finished my course, I have 
kept the faith : Henceforth there is laid up 
for me, a crown of righteousness, which 
the Lord the righteous Judge shall give me 
at that day : and not to me only, but unto 
all them also that love his appearing" May 
the Lord grant it ! and may you and I, so 
spend our days, that when with her we shall 
be called to stand at the judgment seat of 
Christ, we may be prepared to render up our 
account " with joy, and not with grief" 



Errata. Page 46,21st line; for "will never," read 
"shall never."— 39th page, line 15, read "far more exceeding 
and eternal," &c.— Page 111, line 4, for 1843, read 1833. 



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